EQUALITY OBJECTIVES

Equality and diversity 

Each year public bodies, subject to section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 and the specific equality duties, are required to publish equality information. Every 4 years, public bodies subject to these duties are also required to publish equality objectives. We are pleased to publish our four-year equality objectives from September 2022 to September 2026.

We have given careful consideration to the guidance and advice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), and have generated our objectives alongside a revision of our Equality Policy and operational approach.  By bringing together our equality objectives and equality policy, we hope to:

  • promote a better understanding of our equality objectives and what Honywood is seeking to achieve in pursuance of the public sector Equality Duty (PSED);
  • encourage feedback about our equality objectives from key stakeholders - including parents learners and staff;
  • provide information about key developments and initiatives in relation to the PSED;
  • promote greater transparency and greater accountability;
  • create a safe and inclusive environment free from discrimination

We will continue to work internally, and in partnership with colleagues within our Trust and the wider education sector, to ensure that advancing equality and diversity is central to how we operate as an organisation.

Equality objectives 2022 – 2026

We set six equality objectives which cover the period September 2022 to September 2026. Each of these equality objectives is supported by an impact and evidence focused action plan. Our Equality Objectives can be found below.  We would recommend that these are read in conjunction with our Equality Policy which can be found here: Honywood Equality Policy.

Equality objective 1: 

We will work to remove any barriers faced by individuals as a result of their protected characteristics.  We will work with other stakeholders and agencies as appropriate to address individual needs, regardless of their characteristics.

Protected Characteristics are:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage and Civil Partnership
  • Pregnancy and Parental Leave
  • Race
  • Religion or Belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual Orientation

Why have we chosen this objective?

To ensure that all members of the organisation are able to participate in every curriculum and enrichment offer that they choose to. That our learners are happy and successful in their time here and in their life beyond Honywood because they felt acknowledged, championed and valued in our community. That members of our community who do not have a protected characteristic are able to value those who do, to acknowledge the need to champion others and not see this as threat.

Equality objective 2:

Have in place a reasonable adjustment agreement for all staff with disabilities to meet their needs better and make sure that any disadvantages they experience are addressed.

Why have we chosen this objective?

To ensure that the school provides an inclusive work environment that meets the needs of all staff and does not provide any barriers to progression.

Equality objective 3:

Increase the representation of teachers, support staff and governors to reflect the diversity within the body of learners over a 4-year period (from this September to September in 4 years' time), so that these groups increase as a percentage of the teaching workforce and learners are able to better see themselves represented within the workforce.

Why have we chosen this objective?

The demographic of the school has been widening in recent years and our body of learners represent a range of groups.  We feel that it is important for learners to feel a sense of belonging to our community regardless of any of their characteristics.  As such we aim to ensure that all groups are represented by the body of staff within the school.

Equality objective 4:

Continue to develop our systems to maintain high standards of behaviour and respect for others throughout the School and that any incidents of discrimination are recorded, monitored and addressed appropriately. Information will be reported to other stakeholders where appropriate.

Eradicate the use of discriminative language towards protected characteristics, in line with the equality act,  in the school. Where any incidents occur of discrimination we will support both victims and perpetrators in addressing unacceptable discriminatory attitudes. Systems will be put into place to evaluate effectiveness of any intervention put into place.

Actively challenge all incidents of hatred or discrimination.  Where appropriate we will work with the Police/Prevent in relation to such concerns.

Why have we chosen this objective?

Our use of language is a key to promoting equity across our organisation. Ibram X. Kendi challenges a neutral stance in their book How to Be an Antiracist by saying “[T]here is no neutrality in the racism struggle.” Instead, each person picks sides: “One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an antiracist.”  

Everyone has to actively notice any unacceptable use of language and challenge it. It must become ‘anti-Honywood values’ to be openly  homophobic, sexist, racist or ableist. We value every member of our community and feel it’s important to champion those with protected characteristics. 

Equality objective 5:

Ensure that the wider school curriculum makes explicit and implicit provision to promote and celebrate diversity and a cohesive community.  The school will promote role models inside and outside the curriculum of different ability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion or representing any protected characteristic.  Provide opportunities for learners and staff to engage with members of the wider community and support raising awareness of different cultures, faiths and lifestyles.

Provide every opportunity for learners to embrace British Values; Democracy, Rule of Law, Respect and Tolerance, and Liberty. The school will support national events and themed weeks to promote equality and diversity; including but not exclusive to; Red Card Against Racism, Black History Month, Pride; Anti-homophobia week and anti-bullying week.

Why have we chosen this objective?

The demographic of the school has been widening in recent years and our body of learners represent a range of groups.  We feel that it is important for learners to feel a sense of belonging to our community regardless of any of their characteristics.  As such we aim to ensure that our curriculum provides positive examples of underrepresented groups.

Equality objective 6:   

Ensure that appropriate intervention is put into place if necessary in order to overcome any barriers to learning, ensuring that there are purposeful means to evaluate effectiveness of the interventions, actions or support put into place to support all learners regardless of micro-populations.

Why have we chosen this objective?

We feel it is important for all learners to feel confident and comfortable to be a part of the school community and that they are able to make progress free from discrimination or bullying.