Equality Statement

At St Anne's Copp CE Primary School, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion for all members of our school community. We believe that every child is uniquely created in God's image, valued and created with dignity and purpose. We strive to ensure that all pupils, staff, parents, carers and visitors are treated fairly, with respect and without discrimination.

We welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010 and actively work to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

As a Church of England school, our Christian vision underpins our commitment to ensuring that everyone is treated with love, dignity, respect and compassion.

Public Sector Equality Duty

In carrying out our functions, the school has due regard to the need to:

Eliminate discrimination

We seek to remove or minimise disadvantages experienced by individuals because of their protected characteristics and challenge any form of discrimination, harassment or prejudice.

Advance equality of opportunity

We work to ensure all pupils can achieve their full potential by removing barriers to learning, participation and achievement.

Foster good relations

We actively promote understanding, respect and positive relationships between people from different backgrounds, cultures, faiths and experiences.

Protected Characteristics

We recognise the protected characteristics identified within the Equality Act 2010:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership (staff)
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

Equality Information

The school regularly reviews and analyses information relating to pupils and staff in order to identify barriers, address inequalities and improve outcomes.

This includes:

Pupil Achievement

We monitor:

• Attainment and progress across all year groups.
• Outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
• Outcomes for pupils with SEND.
• Outcomes for vulnerable groups.
• Participation in wider curriculum opportunities.

Attendance and Engagement

We monitor:

• Attendance across different pupil groups.
• Persistent absence.
• Participation in clubs, visits and enrichment activities.
• Pupil voice and wellbeing information.

Inclusion and Accessibility

We:

• Make reasonable adjustments for pupils and adults with disabilities.
• Provide appropriate support for pupils with SEND.
• Maintain and review our Accessibility Plan.
• Ensure access to the full curriculum wherever possible.

Behaviour and Wellbeing

We:

• Monitor behaviour, bullying and prejudice-related incidents.
• Promote a culture of kindness, respect and belonging.
• Provide support for pupils' emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Curriculum and Personal Development

We:

• Promote understanding of different cultures, faiths, families and communities.
• Teach pupils about respect, equality and protected characteristics through age-appropriate learning.
• Celebrate diversity through the curriculum, collective worship and enrichment activities.
• Prepare pupils for life in modern Britain through the promotion of British Values and our Christian values.

Equality Objectives (2025–2029)

The governing body has agreed the following equality objectives.

Objective 1: Strengthen Inclusion and Access for Pupils with SEND

Aim: To ensure pupils with SEND are able to participate fully in all aspects of school life through inclusive practice, appropriate adjustments and high-quality provision.

Success Criteria:

• Pupils with SEND demonstrate strong engagement and progress from their starting points.
• Staff receive ongoing training on inclusive practice.
• Reasonable adjustments are consistently implemented.
• Participation in trips, clubs and wider opportunities reflects the school's inclusive ethos.

Objective 2: Promote Understanding, Respect and Celebration of Diversity

Aim: To develop pupils' understanding of diversity and prepare them to thrive in a modern, multicultural society while living out the school's Christian vision and values.

Success Criteria:

• Pupils demonstrate positive attitudes towards people from different backgrounds, cultures, faiths and experiences.
• Diversity is meaningfully represented across the curriculum.
• Collective worship, assemblies and wider curriculum experiences promote respect and inclusion.
• Pupil voice demonstrates an increasing understanding of equality and respect.

Objective 3: Improve Outcomes for Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Pupils

Aim: To reduce gaps in attainment and progress between disadvantaged pupils and their peers through targeted support, high-quality teaching and effective monitoring.

Success Criteria:

• Attainment and progress data demonstrate narrowing gaps.
• Disadvantaged pupils access the full curriculum and enrichment opportunities.
• Governors receive regular reports on pupil outcomes.

Monitoring and Review

The Headteacher and Governing Board will monitor progress towards these objectives through:

• Pupil achievement and attendance data.
• SEND and inclusion monitoring.
• Behaviour and safeguarding information.
• Pupil, staff and parent voice.
• Curriculum and personal development reviews.
• Governor monitoring visits and reports.

These objectives will be reviewed annually and formally updated at least every four years.

Related Policies and Documents

The following documents that can be found under the Policies section of our website, support the school's commitment to equality:

• Accessibility Plan
• SEND Information Report
• Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy
• Behaviour Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
• Relationships, Sex and Health Education (PSE) Policy
• Admissions Policy

Date approved: November 2026
Review date: November 2030
Responsible Committee: Full Governing Board

This statement reflects our commitment to ensuring that every member of the St Anne's Copp CE Primary School community is valued, respected and supported to flourish.