Public Sector Equality Duty
The Equality Act 2010 requires us to publish information that demonstrates that we have due regard for the need to:
It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of:
These are called ‘protected characteristics’.
Corsham Regis is committed to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and with respect as we want our school to be a safe and inspiring learning environment for all our pupils. This school recognises that people have different needs and we understand that treating people equally does not always involve treating everyone the same. Corsham Regis creates inclusive processes and practices where the varying needs of individuals can be identified and met.
This document explains how we show our commitment to equality[i] for our school population and how we plan to tackle inequalities that may impact at school.
Celebrating our Successes
Priorities for the Year 2022-23
continuing to raise awareness, increase understanding and make a difference to pupils’ mental health and wellbeing, during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Increasing the understanding of religious diversity amongst pupils and to learn to promote tolerance and understanding
Sex (Gender) – Boys and Girls
In the 2022 Key Stage 2 statutory tests, our girls out performed our boys in reading by 10% but more boys achieved the expected standard in spelling, grammar and punctuation by 11% and also in maths by 17%.
In the 2022 Key Stage 1 statutory tests with only 4 girls and 9 boys in the cohort, a greater percentage of boys achieved the expected standard in reading than girls by 17% but in maths the girls performed better by 8%.
We continue to select high quality texts when teaching reading that appeal to both boys and girls. With an emphasis on developing a ‘love of reading’ across the academy, buddy reading takes place with the older children sharing books with the younger children and both male and female volunteer readers are used in school. In maths, an emphasis is placed upon oracy, where paired and group talk is used effectively to learn new vocabulary, build confidence and discuss methods for calculation amongst all pupils when working on new concepts.
Minority Ethnic Pupils
Wiltshire LA and schools recognise that groups of pupils may be vulnerable to underachievement for a number of complex reasons, and support the following measures in order to raise attainment:
English as an Additional Language
The focus remains, that for children to achieve well across all subjects communication is essential and by supporting children with their language needs as soon as they enter school, gives them the best opportunities for accessing and achieving in all subject areas.
It should be noted that children with EAL have widely varying levels of English proficiency. Some children have no English and some are fluent multilingual English-speakers and may have lived in English-speaking countries or have been educated in English throughout their childhood.
Attainment is also affected by first language; for example, there are significant differences between Tamil and Chinese speakers, who, on average, perform better than Pashto and Turkish speakers.
In addition, prior education and arrival time impacts on attainment. vi The Wiltshire Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service advise on best practice for individual pupils to ensure those most vulnerable to poor attainment are to fulfil their academic potential.
Corsham Regis has been working closely with this service after accepting a Syrian refugee family’s admissions application. These pupils arrived speaking no English, however they have made good progress when assessed by lead professionals.
Religion and Belief
Data is not collected for monitoring purposes on Religion and Belief, and so there is no information available to compare the attainment of pupils who have/or do not have a religion or a belief.
Corsham Regis recognises how important faith and belief can be as part of a young person’s developing identity, whether this relates to a specific faith or belief, or whether this relates to wider belief systems, morals and ethics.
Corsham Regis is committed to supporting all our young people as they develop a personal relationship with their own values and beliefs, and to supporting, in the context of the Human Rights agenda, the role this plays in the moral and ethical choices they make in life.
This school takes incidents of prejudice-related bullying seriously and is committed to working closely with parents/carers to create a school environment which is nurturing, friendly and supportive for all our children. Our school has established a procedure for recording all incidents of prejudice-based bullying, and this includes bullying related to religion and belief. Comments from young people about bullying include the following, “Encourage and celebrate difference – don’t single us out if we are different, have difficulties, or have different beliefs and views” (Wiltshire Anti-Bullying Charter). https://www.wiltshirehealthyschools.org/core-themes/emotional-health-and-wellbeing/anti-bullying-practice/ ) This school is vigilant in maintaining an awareness of, and appropriate responses to, this possibility. Corsham Regis is aware that negative faith-based media attention can have an impact on all children, and recognises the importance of ensuring that pupils are provided with accurate and appropriate information.
Corsham Regis ensures that all pupils gain knowledge of and respect for the different faiths in Britain as part of our role to prepare pupils for modern life in a diverse Britain. As part of a whole school activity, pupils celebrate different religious festivals and learn from religious representatives from various communities.
Corsham Regis recognises that discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief is a global concern. This school is aware that Islamophobia and anti-Semitism (discrimination or prejudice against people because they are Muslim or Jewish) is increasing and that it displays many of the same traits as racism. This school will continue its work to inform and actively promote acceptance and respect. Nationally, between 2015/6 and 2016/7 there was an increase of 37% in the numbers of faith or belief-based incidents reported to the Police either on school property or near to school property.vii
11% of Islamophobic incidents happen in educational institutions viii, including name-calling, jibes about so-called Islamic State, violence, and victimisation when wearing a hijab ix. Many Muslim young people say abuse is so commonplace it is normalised x. Childline has recorded a spike in race- and faith-based bullying with victims reporting that they feel isolated, withdrawn and lack self-esteem xi.
This school is benefiting from an education resource designed for work with primary school children to educate them about Islamophobia. The development of this resource was funded by the Home Office xii.
Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation (LGBT)
For non-church schools:
Gender Identity remains a relatively new area for schools but this Protected Characteristic identifies a small section of society as vulnerable to discrimination and inequality. Gender Identity was included in equality legislation for the first time in 2010, and many schools, parents, as well as wider society, are learning about the issues for the first time.
Schools in Wiltshire access expert advice and support from the LA, as well as exchanging best practice with other schools. Corsham Regis recognises that Gender Identity is a complex area and that children, young people and their families are navigating an equality area where best practice is not fixed, and where the central advice is to be ‘led by the child’.
This school is committed to ensuring that all our children feel safe while at school and that each child is given the chance to develop their unique identity with support from teaching and support staff, and their peers.
Pupils are taught that families come in many different forms and include single-parent; grandparent-led; same-sex parents; step-families; foster families; families who have adopted children; etc.
Our pupils understand that although families can be very different, what matters is that everyone in a family loves and cares for each other.
This school recognises that negative views within wider society about LGBTQ+ people can have a detrimental effect on pupil wellbeing. Data from Childline and anecdotal information from CAMHS (serving Wiltshire children) show that increasing numbers of children in primary schools are raising issues relating to gender identity and sexual orientation. Gender Identity and sexual orientation are not mental health concerns but many of the referrals received by CAMHS for young people with issues related to their gender identity or sexual orientation are linked to bullying, isolation and internalised negative views about LGBT+ people, that in turn impacts on their emotional and mental health. This school recognises that pupils with these issues will need support from school-based counsellors/school support groups and national websites such as Young Minds. CAMHS is encouraging of primary schools who can provide such support to their pupils, as dealing effectively with these issues at a younger age appears to reduce the more serious mental health issues presented by some LGBT+ secondary school pupils.
There are many charitable organisations providing support on gender identity to young people, their families and to their schools. There are also organisations able to provide advice and support where a pupil has a parent who is transgender. The LA has up to date information about the different organisations, the services they provide and how to contact them.
Disability (Special Educational Needs and Disability)
SEND pupils are categorised as ‘SEN with a statement or Education, health and care (EHC) plan’ and ‘SEN support.
• Wiltshire primary school pupils identified as having SEND are supported to enable a smooth transition to the secondary schools/academies that are best able to support their individual learning needs
• Wiltshire schools, in conjunction with the LA, work extremely hard to ensure that individual pupils meet their full potential, and to determine that pupils have gained all they can from their time at primary school. Pupil attainment is monitored using the current SEN categories.
Corsham Regis is required to publish information on the attainment of SEND pupils. The focus of this section of this Equality Information document is disability. The disability areas being highlighted in this report have been adapted to reflect our current pupil profile. Please note that as schools must adhere to data protection protocols in order not to breach the confidentiality of individual or small groups of pupils, this may mean that our school is limited in the data it is able to publish in this section.
SEND Pupils and the link with Poverty
This school is aware that there is a strong link between poverty and disabilities that negatively impact on educational attainment. Children from low-income families are more likely than their peers to be born with inherited special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), are more likely to develop some forms of SEND in childhood, and are less likely to move out of SEND while at school. Also, children with SEND are more likely than their peers to be born into poverty, and, in addition, more likely to experience poverty as they grow up.
Corsham Regis has made the achievement of pupils with SEND a whole school priority and is supported with expert advice from our SEND education specialists. Corsham Regis also knows that a strong partnership with parents/carers is important, and will continue to work collaboratively to support parents/carers as they seek to provide their children with a stimulating home-learning environment.
Corsham Regis Local Governing Body has a nominated governor to monitor provision for SEND and Disadvantaged Learners. In partnership with the Senior Leadership Team, the nominated governor will evaluate the impact of school based interventions termly to provide an analysis of cost effectiveness in 2021/22
Pupils with Mental Health Concerns
There is an increasing understanding of the negative impact of social, emotional, and mental health difficulties (SEMH) on the educational attainment of pupils. The incorporation of mental health into the Equality Act 2010 has helped to highlight this important issue.
EQUALITY OBJECTIVES
Schools are required to update their published Equality Information each year, and in addition, must have at least one Equality Objective that the school can focus and work on for a period of up to four years.
An objective is about change. It should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant (realistic) and time-bound (SMART), expressed in terms of people and outcomes, and set towards achieving a long-term goal. This means objectives focus on outcomes – real, practical change that can be expressed in terms of improvements.
Academic attainment is important, but pupils also need to move on from this stage of their education feeling happy and self-confident. Corsham Regis Primary Academy is committed to providing a nurturing environment to help develop the resilience of our pupils to cope with the ups and downs and stresses of everyday life. Corsham Regis Primary Academy has decided that one of our Equality Objectives will address pupil mental health and wellbeing as part of our commitment to preventing mental health difficulties that may start in childhood but have a greater impact in adult life.
Objective 1: It is our aim to ensure all adults working in the academy are committed to raising awareness, increasing understanding and making a difference to pupils’ mental health by providing a place where all children feel safe, secure and able to achieve and experience success and well-being.
Success criteria:
Staff receive focused CPD to highlight potential mental health issues for children and families, as well as strategies linked to outdoor learning to improve these
In September we start with a week dedicated to mental health and wellbeing linked with Creative Arts, in 2022 the theme will be ‘A spark to a flame’ a topic inspired by Stravinsky’s Firebird. Supporting child with their mental health and wellbeing is woven throughout our curriculum.
The impact will be measured by:
** number of children able to access this provision was impacted by children working in bubbles and minimal mixing of adults within different bubbles.
Another current focus for Corsham Regis Primary Academy is to ensure that our pupils understand and appreciate the rich diversity of Britain and the important values that help people with differing perspectives and outlooks to live together harmoniously. This document provides information about what Corsham Regis Primary Academy is doing to develop our pupils’ ability to live in a pluralistic (diverse) society. Corsham Regis Primary Academy has an Equality Objective to increase understanding of religious/faith diversity (including people who do not have a faith) and to develop an awareness of the history of religious intolerance in Britain and Europe and to learn to promote tolerance and understanding.
Objective 2: To increase the understanding of religious diversity amongst pupils and to learn to promote tolerance and understanding between different groups.
Success criteria:
The impact will be measured by:
[i] The Equality Act 2010 and Schools https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/315587/Equality_Act_Advice_Final.pdf