Equality Objectives

EQUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OBJECTIVES

Equality and Accessibility Objectives 2023-2026

The Oldham Academy North is committed to providing an environment which values and includes all student, staff, parents and visitors regardless of their educational, physical, sensory, social, spiritual, emotional and cultural needs. We are committed to challenging attitudes about disability and accessibility and to developing a culture of awareness, tolerance and inclusion. The Academy is also committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in line with the Equality Act 2010. The Academy seeks to reduce discrimination and harassment of any member of the Academy and will not discriminate on any of the protected characteristics save where such discrimination is permitted by law.

Protected Characteristics include:

  • Religion or belief
  • Race – colour, ethnicity or national origin
  • Gender or gender identity
  • Sex or sexuality
  • Marital or civil partnership status
  • Pregnancy or maternity
  • Disability
  • Age

Where it is practicable to make reasonable adjustments to enable a prospective student to take up a place at  the Academy and to satisfy the current admissions criteria, the Academy is committed to providing those reasonable adjustments. In order to do this, the Academy will ask for the student to disclose whether they have received any learning support, have had an educational psychologist report or have any disability or other condition of which the Academy should be aware. Where a potential Student has an Education Health Care Plan, the Academy will work with the Local Authority to ensure that the identified provision is delivered in an appropriate manner. The Academy will be sensitive to any issues of confidentiality.

The Oldham Academy North will not tolerate direct or in-direct discrimination, harassment or victimisation.

As an Academy we have an accessible site and building with the following:

  • Outside sports and grounds facilities that are fully accessible to all.
  • Accessible toilets in each teaching space.
  • Emergency evacuation system in place with the use of EVAC chairs.
  • Non-visual guides on signage around the Academy.
  • Clearly marked disabled parking bays in the car park.

To increase the extent to which all disabled students can participate in the Academy curriculum, we have:

  • Provided a number of ‘bases’ and ‘safe spaces’ to use for lessons, interventions and during social times.
  • Provided all staff with a bespoke ‘one-page-profile’ of students needs and disabilities.
  • Detailed and bespoke access arrangements to allow students to access internal and external examinations and assessments without prejudice.
  • Ongoing collation of transition information in relation to students need and disability about prospective Y7 students and mid-term admissions prior to starting dates.

 

Equality objective What this means for  The Oldham Academy North
Provide positive non-stereotyping information about gender roles, family units and diverse groups.
  • We will actively seek to be gender neutral with regards to home/school communication. This includes not making assumptions over primary contact numbers and actively seeking to engage parents/carers of different genders in engaging with the life of the academy.
  • We will review our application forms to ensure they do not favour one type of family set up.
  • Our uniform policy will be gender neutral.
  • Option subjects will work to dispel gender stereotypes around their subjects and actively promote update from different genders.
  • We will review and update our display boards to ensure representation from a range of diverse backgrounds.
  • We will include explicit teaching about different types of families in our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education curriculum.
  • Our Equality and Diversity Calendar will include events across the academy to celebrate a range of religious festivals.
  • We will explicitly teach about gender roles and stereotyping in our PSHE curriculum.
  • Students will be specifically taught about the Equality Act 2010 and the protected characteristics through personal development sessions.
Improve our knowledge and understanding of discriminatory behaviours within our organisation.
  • Our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education lead will ensure there is one event per term that aims to improve staff and students’ knowledge about discrimination.
  • We will deliver training for all staff on the Equality Act 2010 and reasonable adjustments and this will form part of the new staff induction.
  • CPOMS will have clear separate categories for discrimination against the nine protected characteristics.
  • We will log all discriminatory behaviour against any of the protected characteristics to enable us to monitor and identify any areas of concern where more education is needed for staff, students or families.
Equality of opportunity: prepare students for life in a diverse society in which students are able to see their place in the local, regional and national and international community.
  • We will ensure that visitors invited to speak to the students represent a diverse range of individuals.
  • E-ACT Passport activities will provide students with the opportunity to experience wider life experiences away from the academy in order for students to visualise their possible future life choices.
  • A range of local, national and international charity and raising awareness events throughout the year are carefully selected and delivered in order for students to gain an insight into the wider communities and the possible issues they face.
Improve our experiences available to our students to ensure opportunities and access for all.
  • We will make sure that all our students, regardless of disability, gender, race, religion, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or age have equal opportunities in taking part in extra-curricular activities. We will collect information about those attending to evaluate representation and accessibility.
  • We will actively look at ways of tackling any barriers that prevent accessibility. We will regularly obtain the views of all students, particularly those with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) and physical disabilities, to ensure that we are meeting their needs and making any necessary adjustments.

 

We are committed to further improving the service and experience of students, staff, parents and visitors with Protected Characteristics through our Equality and Accessibility Objectives:

Equality & Accessibility Objectives December 2023-2026

 

 

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