Race
Equality Policy
Birchington Church of England Primary School is committed to an inclusive ethos based on respect for, and celebration of, ethnic diversity. The school strives to prepare all pupils for living in a multi‑cultural and multi‑ethnic society and will strive to promote race equality in all dimensions of the school's life and community. The school complies with the statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
For further information please refer to KCC’s Race Equality in Schools: Guidance for Policy and Practice document dated April 2006.
We will:
• Take positive action to eliminate racial discrimination and harassment
• Promote equality of opportunity for all members of the school community
• Promote good relations between people of different racial groups
Cultural and ethnic diversity will be valued in the curriculum, in the school workforce, the governing body, the parental body and the student body. We will ensure that the culture and ethos of the school places value on the diverse racial faith and ethnic groups, cultural and linguistic heritage represented in our society while keeping a Christian ethos within the school .
We acknowledge and value all ethnic and national groups represented in the school community, including Asylum Seekers, Refugees, Gypsies and other Travellers.
We recognise we live in a multi‑cultural and multi faith community and we will strive to recruit a workforce to reflect this.
We endorse the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report and accept the definition of racism and institutional racism included within it.
Racism
Conduct or words which advantage or disadvantage people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin.
Institutional Racism
The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, sexual orientation or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and stereotyping which disadvantage minority groups.
We will ensure that all members of the school community will have the opportunity to improve their own understanding of race equality and understand their personal responsibility to promote race equality.
CURRICULUM
Birchington Church of England Primary School provides a broad and balanced curriculum for all pupils. The school accepts the three principles in the statutory inclusion statement for the National Curriculum:
• Setting suitable learning challenges for all pupils
• Responding to pupils' diverse learning needs
• Overcoming potential barriers to learning and assessment for individuals and groups of pupils
We recognise that citizenship presents opportunities for encouraging respect for diversity.
In the purchase of resources, our curriculum leaders will ensure that materials reflect and celebrate ethnic and cultural diversity.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Birchington Church of England Primary School strives to ensure that teaching and learning styles include and raise achievement of all pupils.
We will ensure that methods of assessment are culturally neutral and do not disadvantage pupils for whom English is an Additional Language.
We will ensure that setting and grouping arrangements raise achievement of all pupils and do not reinforce negative stereotypes or lower the self‑esteem of pupils.
All teachers will seek opportunities to introduce activities that demonstrate the value of other cultures and encourage children to discuss race equality.
COMMUNITY CONSULTATION AND PARTNERSHIP
We will be pro‑active in encouraging representation on the school governing body to ensure it
reflects the ethnic profile of our school population and the community.
We will welcome minority ethnic community and faith groups by inviting them to join in the celebration of
cultural and religious festivals in our school.
We will take positive action to ensure that communication is accessible to all.
RACIAL INCIDENTS
Birchington Church of England Primary School will not tolerate any form of racial harassment or abuse.
Racist Incident ‑ A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.
ETHNIC MONITORING
Birchington Church of England Primary School will ensure that ethnic monitoring of the pupil population and the workforce is undertaken positively to ensure equality of opportunity and high achievement for all groups.
The Headteacher will ensure that data on the ethnic profile of the school is used to monitor the impact of policies on pupils, staff and parents from different racial groups. She will report her findings to the Governing Body.
REVIEW OF THE RACE EQUALITY POLICY
The Race Equality Policy shall be reviewed annually.
RESPONSIBILITY
It is the responsibility of all members of the school community to:
• Promote race equality and supports the implementation of the Race Equality Policy
• Behave in a manner which respects and values cultural and linguistic diversity
• Challenge and eliminate racial discrimination, racial harassment and racial abuse
Reviewed by KB & Govs: May 2007
Review date: May
2008
