Ivy Road Primary School is committed to promoting equality and preventing discrimination at all levels, both as an employer and in our education provision. Our school is inclusive and welcoming, with a focus on the wellbeing and progress of every child and acknowledgement that all members of our community are of equal worth. We believe that the Equality Act provides a framework to support our commitment to valuing diversity, tackling discrimination, promoting equality and fostering good relationships between people. It also ensures that we continue to tackle issues of disadvantage and underachievement of different groups of pupils. We recognise that these duties reflect international human rights standards as expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and the Human Rights Act 1998.

The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to ensure protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of specific characteristics (referred to as protected characteristics). This means that schools cannot discriminate against pupils or treat them less favourably because of their sex (gender), race, disability, religion or belief, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or pregnancy or maternity. Age and marriage and civil partnership are also “protected characteristics” but are not part of the school provisions related to pupils. The Act requires all public organisations, including schools to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty and two specific duties: The Public Sector Equality Duty or “general duty” This requires all public organisations, including schools to:

▪ Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

▪ Advance equality of opportunity between different groups

▪ Foster good relations between different groups

▪ Publish information to show compliance with the Equality Duty

▪ Publish Equality plan at least every 4 years which are specific and measurable