Equality Duty

The Head teacher, Staff and Governors of Cranford Park CE school are aware of their responsibility under the Equality Act  2010, which requires schools to have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and all other conduct that is prohibited by the Act
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
• Foster good relations across all characteristics- between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

Protected Characteristics under the Equality Act 2010

•          Age
•          Disability
•          Gender reassignment
•          Marriage and Civil Partnership
•          Pregnancy and Maternity
•          Race (colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin)
•          Religion or belief (including lack of belief)
•          Sex (gender)
•          Sexual Orientation (heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian and bisexual)

We appreciate that a culture which promotes equality will create a positive environment and a shared sense of belonging for all who work, learn and use the services of our school. We are committed to creating a community that recognises and celebrates difference within a culture of respect, compassion and co-operation. Our children are taught to stand up for equality and justice with acts of 'courageous advocacy' and we see this reflected in their behaviour and attitudes. We therefore welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010 as both a provider of education and as an employer. Our Equality Policy is available on our policies page.

We have considered how well we currently achieve these aims with regard to the protected groups under the Equality Act and have considered our objectives for improvement as follows:

EQUALITY OBJECTIVES

Attendance

To improve attendance for disadvantaged pupils to bring it in line with the attendance for non-disadvantaged children at a target of 95%.

Jan 25 update: We continue to work with our disadvantaged pupils and their families to improve attendance. We offer bespoke solutions to support our families and have seen some pleasing improvements from some of our persistent absentees. While the gap remains significant, this is also due to the attendance of non-disadvantaged pupils further improving.  Much of the absence of disadvantaged pupils is also due to families travelling for work.

The school continues to take a hard line on absence and use Hampshire processes to present penalty notices to those families who have ten sessions or more of unauthorised absence. 

Diversity

To actively promote and prioritise raising awareness, appreciation and celebration of diversity, including gender, sexuality, race, culture and religion, through all aspects of school life, ensuring all pupils feel valued.

Jan 25 update:  A successful book week launched our work in this area with all classes studying books which celebrated diversity throughout the week. Staff remain aware of the need to reflect diversity in resources, including visual representations, used through curriculum and wider activities, such as worship. 

A series of input from the SENCo has increased our children's understanding of SEND including neurodiversity. 

Black History month and a revised History curriculum ensure more balanced teaching of historical figures.

A World Culture Day is planned for the summer term to celebrate the diversity of cultures within our school. 

Our 'pause days' have provided more opportunities to celebrate diversity more widely. Further developments in Religious Education are planned, including more visits and visitors relating to religions other than Christianity .

Personal Development

To promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through all appropriate curricular and extracurricular opportunities.

Jan 25 update:  Significant work has been done at the school to weave SMSC through the curriculum. All subjects now have identified opportunities for SMSC and these can be seen in the lesson planning. Leaders' monitoring looks for SMSC opportunities in lessons. A further focus on spirituality using the 'mirror, window, door, candle' approach has enhanced the good work in the school. This was recognised in our recent SIAMS inspection which noted that, "Spiritual development is intrinsically woven through the curriculum and worship, providing opportunities for pupils and adults to flourish spiritually." (November 2024). For further details in the full report, see our SIAMS page. 

For further details of equality actions, please contact the school.