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Equality Objectives Statement and Action Plan 2025/26

Equality Objectives Statement and Action Plan
2025- 2026

Date created - September 2022

Date reviewed - September 2024

Date reviewed -September 2025

Next review date - September 2026

Equality Objectives Statement

At Co-op Academy Southfield we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and preventing discrimination. We aim to provide an inclusive environment for all where individuals are able to develop to their full potential. It is a priority within the academy that all stakeholders are able to engage in the full academy offer and differentiation and the removal of barriers promotes this for all. Importance is given to not only eliminating discrimination but also promoting and increasing understanding and appreciation for diversity within the academy and the wider community.

We welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010. The academy’s general duties, with regards to equality are:

● Eliminating discrimination

● Fostering good relationships

● Advancing equality of opportunity.

Changes within KCSIE 2022 in regards to equality and highlighted below:

Equality legislation The guidance sets out the significance of the Equality Act 2010 to school safeguarding, including that schools and colleges:

• must not unlawfully discriminate against pupils because of their protected characteristics

• must consider how they are supporting pupils with protected characteristics

• must take positive action, where proportionate, to deal with the disadvantages these pupils face. For example, by making reasonable adjustments for disabled children and supporting girls if there is evidence they are being disproportionately subjected to sexual violence or harassment.

It also looks at the implications of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) for education settings. This includes a need to be conscious that pupils with protected characteristics may be more at risk of harm and integrate this into safeguarding policies and procedures.

Co-op Academy Southfield will promote all aspects of equality inline with school safeguarding procedures and policy.

We will not discriminate against, harass or victimise any pupil, prospective pupil, or other member of the school community because of their:

● Sex

● Age

● Race

● Disability

● Religion or belief

● Sexual orientation

● Gender reassignment

● Pregnancy or maternity

● Marriage and civil partnership

At Co-op Academy Southfield we follow a number of guiding principles within our

practice:

● All learners are of equal value

● We recognise and respect difference and diversity

● We foster positive attitudes and relationships, and a shared sense of cohesion and belonging ● We observe good equalities practice in staff recruitment, retention and development

● We aim to reduce and remove inequalities and barriers that already exist

● We consult and involve widely

● Society as a whole should benefit.

Our aims to eradicate discrimination and promote cohesion

We are committed to equality both as an employer and a service-provider and aim to:

• Ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect.

• Make sure that our academy is a safe, happy and inclusive learning environment for all.

• Recognise that individuals have different needs, and we understand that treating people

equally does not always involve treating them all exactly the same.

• Promote an understanding and acceptance of diversity and its benefits.

• Recognising some pupils, families and colleagues require extra support to help them

to achieve and be successful.

• Make sure that all stakeholders are consulted and involved in decision making.

• Make sure that no-one experiences harassment, less favourable treatment or discrimination.

• Be compassionate and open minded.

We are committed to ensuring the curriculum delivered to our pupils includes concepts that are fair and equal and which promotes acceptance of others, inclusivity and prevents discrimination. We will also respect the right of parents to withdraw their children from certain classes which pose conflicts to their own beliefs, where such withdrawal is legally permitted.

Dealing with prejudice and discrimination

We do not tolerate any form of prejudice-related incident. If an incident occurs, we are devoted to ensuring action is taken and a resolution is put into place which is both firm, fair, appropriate and proportionate.

Our pupils are taught and supported to understand how to be:

● understanding of others

● to celebrate each other's cultural diversity

● to endeavour to reach their full potential

● to include each other in all aspects of school life.

● aware of what discriminatory behaviour is.

Our staff members and multi agency colleagues will not:

● discriminate against any member of the school community

● treat other members of the school community unfairly

● treat any members of our wider school community unfairly

Our staff members and multi agency colleagues will:

● promote diversity and equality

● encourage and adopt an inclusive attitude

● lead by example

Equality and diversity in the workplace

We do not discriminate against staff with regards to their:

● Age

● Disability

● Gender reassignment

● Marital or civil partner status

● Pregnancy or maternity

● Race

● Religion or belief

● Sex

● Sexual orientation

(this is not an exhaustive list)

Equality of opportunity and non-discrimination extends to the treatment of all members of the school and wider school community. All staff members are obliged to act in accordance with the school’s policies relating to equality.

We will guarantee that no redundancy is the result of direct or indirect prejudice. All disciplinary procedures are non-prejudicial, whether they result in warnings, dismissal, or any other disciplinary action.

Prejudice is not tolerated and we are continuously working to maintain and grow an accepting and respectful environment for our school community.

The school participates in an annual consultation with staff and parents through the ‘Your Voice’ survey, conducted on behalf of the school by the Trust. This is a good opportunity for interested parties in consulting with and taking the views of the community we serve.

The Co-op Academies Trust circulates regular ‘Pulse’ surveys of staff on current matters and significant findings are reported back to the leadership teams of the academies within the Trust where applicable.

Parents and carers are asked to complete a feedback form at the time of their student’s Annual Review of their Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP).

This document should be read in conjunction with the Co-op Academies Trust Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Policy 2015(as reviewed) and Dignity at Work Policy And the Co-op Academy Southfield Accessibility Policy and Plan 2020-2021.

Equality Objectives Action Plan 2025-2026

Identified concern:	To develop a strong sense of belonging for all pupils within the academy, which fully supports the ethos of diversity and equality.
Objective & Aim	All pupils are placed within class groups which best meet their academic and holistic needs. The curriculum design supports challenge and ambition for all students.
Action: Responsibility: Success criteria:	To ensure that transition within classes is well-considered and that communication between groups is planned strategically To provide relevant CPD for all staff to ensure that pupils’ communication needs are met: ensuring that all pupils have a voice To ensure that the curriculum design takes into account the ages and stages of all students, ensuring that true ambition and challenge is equal for all Safeguarding themes are interwoven into the curriculum to ensure that all students are taught about relevant risks and modern day challenges that are faced locally and nationally To develop a planned and progressive ‘experiences’ plan which enables all students access to opportunities and enrichment beyond the classroom. This will include trips, visitors and Curriculum lead KS directors CPD lead Pastoral team All pupils are engaged in a cohesive community environment that embraces local and national cultures. The curriculum enables all students to thrive within a classroom which meets their needs and has suitable pedagogical approaches in place.
Review:

Identified concern:	To support engagement and participation in all lessons via a total communication approach.
Objective & Aim	All pupils have access to the communication strategies that they require to remain engaged, regulated and
Action: Responsibility: Success criteria:	Assistant Head for Communication is recruited Support of SLE for communication is instigated to guide the academy during the interim phase HLTAs with responsibility for communication interventions have a purposeful timetable which enables impact Communication CPD both as part of a planned whole school offer and also as part of an ‘on the job package’ which includes modelling of lessons and interventions ‘This is Me’ documentation provides a reflection of communication need for each student, which is evident in the classroom practice Collaboration is encouraged to reduce workload with regards to resource making Communication opportunities are planned for within lessons which enables LSAs to have wider understanding of the intent Curriculum Lead CPD Lead Communication Lead (when in post) Class Teachers Pupils’ access to learning is more purposeful Pupil voice is embedded within both the curriculum and wider academy life Pupil engagement is improved leading to better outcomes .
Review:

Identified concern:	To improve the careers offer within the academy by developing a whole school Destinations Curriculum
Objective & Aim	To provide all students with the knowledge and skills required in preparation for adulthood, taking to account and celebrating their strengths.
Action:	To review the role of the current careers team to maximise impact To revisit the annual review processes to determine pupil and family voice at all stages to enable a personalised long term plan for each student To empower parents by ensuring that they are fully informed of the Post 16 offer within the city To support all students to have access to accreditation To provide a pathway offer which determines an ambitious and relevant offer for each student, with a particular focus on students with PMLD and Profound Autism
Responsibility: Success Criteria	Headteacher and SLT Careers Advisors Careers Lead KS directors All pupils will leave Co-op Academy Southfield with a planned and maximized ‘next step’ All students will experience a wide range of Careers Related Learning which exposes them to the world of work or to a fulfilled life within the community.
Review