Richmond School
Policy | Policy List | Race Equality Policy
RACE EQUALITY POLICY
COMMITMENT (1)
1.1 The aims of Richmond School are clear and unequivocal in setting out the School's commitment to equality of opportunity for all.
1.2 However, the Stephen Lawrence murder, the McPherson Report (1999) which followed, and subsequent legislation have placed an added legislative and moral requirement to ensure that the School should have a policy and supporting activity in place which specifically highlights its principles and actions designed to prevent racist attitudes - in particular, what McPherson termed 'institutional racism'.
1.3 Institutional Racism is defined as 'the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwilling prejudice, thoughtlessness and racism stereo-typing which disadvantage ethnic people.
1.4. Our own School Equal Opportunities Policy is specific in its commitment to promoting equality for all through support for respect for the individual. A strong driver in this is a stated commitment to avoid discrimination (direct or indirect), with discrimination emanating from an individual’s race specifically mentioned – alongside discrimination based on gender, religious belief, disability, socio-economic background, age or sexual orientation specifically listed.
1.5. The new legal requirement highlights a dual need:
(a) to have a specific race equality policy which finds its embodiment in the planning, actions and ethos of our school;
(b) to revise the School Equal Opportunities Policy to take account of developments in thinking over the past 18 months, particularly with reference to social inclusion, members of our organisation identified as 'gifted and talented' and the national Citizenship agenda.
1.6. The fact that there are few residents from ethnic minorities in the locality served by the school, highlights further the need for continued promotion of race equality and a raising of multi-cultural awareness.
POLICY STATEMENT (2)
2.1. In pursuance of the stated aims of the School, Richmond School opposes racism and discrimination in all of their manifestations;
2.2. The School is committed to enabling each individual participating in activity in the School's name to have equal access to the benefits of its provision unhindered by race, religion, language and culture;
2.3. The School will secure this by ensuring parity of esteem and equality of access to the range of learning and opportunities which the School provides and to take active, positive and planned steps to ensure that implementation of the policy is actively and consistently pursued.
AIMS OF THE RACE EQUALITY POLICY (3)
Within the overall aims of Richmond School and within the framework of an ongoing commitment to Equal Opportunities for All, the Race Equality Policy will specifically:
3.1. set out a shared vision about the promotion and maintenance of racial equality at Richmond School;
3.2. demonstrate the organisation's positive commitment to take race equality issues seriously;
3.3 prepare students for life in a multi-ethnic society;
3.4 actively seek to identify racism in all of its forms and work against it, thus ensuring that racial discrimination finds no place at Richmond School;
3.5 plan to counteract racial prejudice and stereo-typing;
3.6 make clear the links between this policy and other policies, ensuring that the approaches used are consistent with other equal opportunities matters by stressing the under-pinning principle of ‘Respect for the Individual’;
3.7 meet the legal requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and the subsequent Race Relations (Statutory Duties) Order 2001;
3.8 promote positive attitudes to diversity;
3.9 develop understanding that prejudice and discrimination on the basis of colour, culture and racial or ethnic origin is unacceptable in our society ;
3.10 eliminate all discrimination based on colour, culture and racial or ethnic origin by students, staff or individuals or groups carrying out work on behalf of Richmond School;
3.11 encourage all students to develop self-respect and respect for others;
3.12 acknowledge the complexity of British society and prepare all students for their integral part in this society;
3.13 provide all students and staff with opportunities to develop, progress and attain their full potential in all areas of school activity.
ROLES AND RESPONSABILITIES (4)
4.1. The Governors will;
(i) ensure that Richmond School complies with Race Relations legislation;
(ii) ensure that the procedures and strategies set out in this policy and stemming from it are implemented effectively;
(iii) select and name a member of the Governing Body to have a specific responsibility to take a specific and active interest in the effective implementation of the policy;
(iv) require the Head to monitor the effective implementation of the policy and report annually on its implementation at the final meeting in the School Year of the Governing Body;
(v) actively and appropriately support the School in the proper implementation of the policy;
4.2. The Head will:
(i) ensure the effective implementation of the policy through the school's planning and management processes, either directly or through clearly delegated responsibility in the Senior Management Team;
(ii) ensure that all staff (particularly those with management responsibilities) are aware of their responsibilities under this policy and receive appropriate training, guidance and support;
(iii) recommend appropriate appointments or developments in existing management roles to secure the effective implementation of the policy;
(iv) ensure that planned work and activities create and take appropriate opportunities to teach about racial equality and cultural diversity;
(v) secure appropriate additional teaching for ethnic minority students who may have English as a second language or other learning needs;
(vi) make clear reporting procedures should any incidents of a racist nature occur;
(vii) maintain a log book of any incidents of a racial nature;
(viii) take appropriate action in any cases of racial discrimination;
(ix) monitor the promotion of racial equality specifically as part of the monitoring of the promotion of equality in the school curriculum;
(x) report to Governors annually on the implementation of the policy.
4.3 The staff (including community education staff) will:
(i) comply with the policy;
(ii) promote racial equality and good race relations;
(iii) maintain high expectations of all students regardless of racial background;
(iv) challenge racial bias and stereo-typing;
(v) plan and use opportunities in curricular and extra-curricular activity to celebrate racial and cultural diversity, to emphasise the pluralistic nature of society and to foster respect and understanding of different races, languages and cultures;
(vi) challenge racial bias and stereo-typing;
(vii) deal with and log racist incidents using the school's logging system for referrable incidents;
4.4. The students (including community education students) will;
(i) be aware of the policy and its implications and be expected to engage fully, constructively and supportively in activities designed to help them understand its rationale and implications;
(ii) be required to comply with the policy;
(iii) know of their own entitlement to equal treatment and respect and be expected to demonstrate respect for the similar entitlements of all other people who are part of the school;
(iv) be entitled to be part of a range of curricular and extra-curricular experiences which celebrate cultural diversity and foster understanding.
4.5 Parents, visitors and contractors will:
(i) be made aware of the policy and be required to comply with its basic requirements whilst on site.
ACTION IN CASE OF A NON-COMPLIANCE (5)
5.1 The sanctions set out in the Behaviour Policy will be applied to students who do not comply with the policy;
5.2 The Staff Disciplinary Procedures will be used in the event of non-compliance on the part of any employee of Richmond School;
5.3 Parents, visitors and contractors who do not comply will be challenged and warned and may be required to cut short their business and leave the premises;
PROMOTING THE POLICY (6)
6.1. All staff and students will receive briefing and training in the meaning and implications of the policy. Staff guidance will include support in ensuring that appropriate curriculum opportunities are devised and/or taken to promote learning and understanding;
6.2. A statement summarising the policy will be displayed in all rooms in the school;
6.3. The policy will be made available to all staff through the Staff Handbook;
6.4 A summary of the policy will be made available to all students via the parental handbook and alluded to specifically in the Home School Agreement;
6.5 The Governors and leadership staff of the school will take cognisance of this policy when devising or reviewing school policies.
IMPLEMENTATION (7)
To achieve the aims of the Racial Equality Policy we shall work in each of the following areas:
Curriculum teaching and learning:
(i) to ensure that each student is able to attain the best possible level of achievement appropriate to their age and ability through a planned approach to differentiation;
(ii) to provide access for all students to a broad and balanced curriculum which avoids stereotyping which reflects the achievements and roles in society of all groups, which raises students’ awareness of cultural, social, historical, and community issues and which encourages positive attitudes towards difference and diversity;
Department curriculum policies will include an equality statement.
(iii) to develop understanding of what constitutes racist behaviour and its consequences both for the victim and the perpetrator, including the law on racism and discrimination;
(iv) to provide equal access to school resources and to the full range of school experiences and to provide support where this is needed;
(v) to value all students and start from their experiences ensuring that the curriculum reflects the diversity of intake;
(vi) to involve all sections of the school community in the life of the school, including developments of the curriculum;
(vii) to raise self-esteem by being constantly aware that staff expectations affect the achievement, behaviour and status of each student;
(viii) to treat differences sensitively and adopt positive approaches to diversity;
(ix) to plan opportunities for students to have direct contact with other cultures and ethnic groups and include these in the curriculum of all students.
School Policies
(i) Include racial equality explicitly in all relevant policies;
(ii) Draw up a racial equality action plan and include targets in the School Development Plan and report regularly to Governors on its implementation.
Resources
(i) Ensure that the resources used in all curriculum areas are multicultural and non-sexist, containing positive images of non-European cultures, contributions and achievements both in the School, the local community and beyond;
(ii) Provide accurate information for students and staff about similarities and differences between the cultural groups;
(iii) Raise awareness of the unfairness and injustice of stereotyping through the planned curriculum, assemblies, resources and displays.
Language
(i) View linguistic diversity positively and show that language and dialect spoken by students and their families or by staff is valued except where it contravenes these principles;
(ii) Be aware of racist or sexist connotations in language used and challenge inappropriate use of language.
Admissions and registration
(i) Follow the LEA/Governing Body Admissions Policy, which does not permit race, colour, sex or disability to be used as criteria for admission;
(ii) Take care to ensure that names are accurately recorded;
(iii) Record racial or ethnic groupings (including Travellers) on the SIMs student record.
DEALING WITH RACIST INCIDENTS (8)
8.1. The School Behaviour Policy and Code of Conduct make it explicit that physical and verbal abuse, offensive, degrading or derogatory behaviour will not be accepted or tolerated. Thus, any incidents of a racist nature - remarks, harassment or abuse - will be dealt with under the terms of this policy in the case of students or Staff Disciplinary Procedures in the case of employees;
8.2. In addition the following will be investigated and could result in disciplinary action:
(i) incitement of others to behave in a racist manner;
(ii) racist language and racial abuse;
(iii) threats and/or violence which are related to racism;
(iv) racist graffiti, jokes, badges, magazines or computer software;
(v) ridicule of cultural or religious differences;
8.3. A teacher dealing with racist behaviour directed at another individual will:
(i) have received appropriate training;
(ii) discuss the incident with the student who is the target of the abuse;
(iii) attempt to re-educate the perpetrator;
(iii) involve parents, as appropriate;
(v) use school sanctions;
(vi) complete the normal incident report but head it ‘Racist Incident’;
(vii) ensure that work is set in hand to support the victim;
(viii) ensure that the effectiveness of the actions taken is monitored;
8.4. Heads of Year will monitor incident reports and intensify the School's response if there is a recurrence of the undesirable conduct.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLICY (9)
9.1 Establish a central monitoring record of racist incidents to determine the type, frequency and pattern of unacceptable behaviour that is specifically racist;
9.2. Create suitable opportunities to enable ethnic minority students to contribute to an understanding of the problem, ascertain the regularity and nature of any racism and advise on effective strategies to deal with the problems;
9.3. Designate a link Governor;
9.4. Examine all school policies and procedures to align them with this policy;
9.5 Monitor attainment, rewards, exclusions, etc. of ethnic minority students;
9.6. Continue to ensure that the School's stance on this and all other equality-related issues are clearly outlined in the School's Prospectus;
9.7 Use curricular and extra-curricular means to foster respect for other races and establish a budget to support this;
9.8 Ensure that this element of citizenship is fully explored through the PSHE lessons, thus enhancing racial awareness and international understanding.
MONITORING THE POLICY (10)
10.1. Staff have a duty to report immediately and directly any racist incidents as described in 7.3 above;
10.2 Heads of Year will report any incidents of 'racial equality' issues to the Head. The Head will ensure that an up-to-date log is maintained and take action where necessary;
10.3 Attainment data will be used to indicate student progress and added value for ethnic minority students. Remedial action should be planned if the data indicates that this would be appropriate;
10.4 The Head will report annually to the Governors and will maintain termly contact with the Link Governor;
10.5 The Personnel Committee will monitor staff appointments to ensure that the policy is upheld in this area.
EVALUATION AND REVIEW (11)
11.1. The Senior Management team will ensure that the policy's application is evaluated on a systematic and annual basis through the involvement of representatives of staff, students, parents and the link Governor;
11.2. The policy will be reviewed every other year unless evaluations suggest sooner.
P A BEEVER
HEAD
Established: October 2002
Review: September 2006
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