Equalities and Cohesion
In order to provide good quality education, all staff and Governors of Hounsdown School are committed to the provision of equal opportunities for all, in all areas of school life.
Our curriculum is planned to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of students at the school and of society, and prepare students at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. We firmly believe that we have a duty to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different groups.
All of our work is based on the following principles of equality:
1. All learners are of equal value
- Whether or not they are disabled
- Whatever their ethnicity, culture, religious affiliation, national origin or national status
- Whichever their gender(sex), gender (reassignment)
- Whatever their sexual orientation
2. We recognise and respect diversity
- Treating people equally does not necessarily involve treating them all the same. Our policies, procedures and activities must not discriminate, but are differentiated, as appropriate, to take account of differences of life-experience, outlook and background, and in the kinds of barrier and disadvantage which people may face.
3. We foster positive attitudes and relationships, and a shared sense of cohesion and belonging within our school community and in preparing students for a positive contribution to wider society
- Positive attitudes towards disabled people, good relations between disabled and non- disabled people, and an absence of harassment of disabled people
- Positive interaction and good relations between groups and communities
- Mutual respect and an absence of sexual harassment regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender reassignment
4. Staff recruitment, retention and development operated properly within the legal and equality duty laws
5. We aim to reduce and remove inequalities and barriers that already exist
- In addition to avoiding or minimising possible negative impacts, we take opportunities to maximise positive impacts by reducing and removing inequalities and barriers that may already exist.
6. We consult widely
- We routinely talk to all stakeholders, students, parents, staff, the local community and welcome feedback in all forms so that we can reflect on the way we do things, and seek continual improvements.
7. Society as a whole should benefit
- We want Hounsdown students to leave our care and make a real, positive impact on their local, national and international communities.
As a school we recognise that a diversity of thought, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation. We regularly collect diversity information from our governors and, depending on current data, can use this to:
- Target recruitment to address gaps in experience and diversity
- Develop and adapt board practices to ensure full participation
- Prioritise training and awareness-raising in identified areas
- Address potential ‘blind spots’ through seeking wider advice and perspectives on current and upcoming opportunities, challenges and risks.
School Improvement Plan
Our annual School Improvement Plan shows how our school improvement work links to fostering equality and cohesion.
See also our Equal Opportunities policy (under Curriculum Policies), Equalities Data and School Accessibility Action Plan, which are reviewed on an annual basis.
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