Equality Statement

Promoting equality at WOA

We welcome our public sector duty under the Equality Act 2010 to publish equality objectives and information. The aim for this is to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
• Promoting our academy’s curriculum to ensure it provides students with access to meaningful understanding of diversity of cultures and ethnicities, and encourage integration and shun discrimination
• Following recruitment processes with a view to openly encourage a diverse range of applicants, and that applications are considered individually and comprehensively in order to ensure equality of opportunity
• Closing the attainment gaps between “groups” of learners, with a particular focus on gender, students with additional learning needs and students from ethnic minority groups
• Adopting proactive measures to further develop in all WOA employees and
  students a culture and ethos that embraces diversity and recognises the need for equality
• Ensuring WOA governors are appropriately trained in equality and diversity
  such that they are empowered to support and encourage the value of fairness
  and difference in the academy and community they serve 

In all our activities we act in accordance with the equality act and our equality policy. This can be found on the policy page by following the link at the bottom of this page.

As part of this we will:

• Publish information every year about our academy population
• Outline how we have due regard for equality and how we promote community cohesion
• Publish equality objectives to show how we plan to tackle particular inequalities and improve what we do
• Have in place an accessibility plan
• Have an induction process for new arrivals and ensure that the admission arrangements do not disadvantage groups of students
• Monitor / report on exclusions and all incidents of harassment / discrimination
• Providing adequate training for all staff members and governors including safeguarding and SEN issues
• Follow our published complaints procedure
• Adhere to non-discriminatory employment practices
• Have in place staff and student codes of conduct
• Have a balanced curriculum with an activity / enrichment programme that is accessible to all students
• Provide additional support and apply reasonable adjustments where necessary
• Involve disabled learners, their families and disabled staff in the changes and improvements we make and consult them on issues that concern or affect them
• Track and monitor identified groups and their access and performance and aim to reduce gaps between groups
• Keep a record, where appropriate of the protected characteristics of our students and employees

At the academy we work together to eliminate all forms of discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Progress towards meeting our equalities objectives is reviewed annually by the senior leadership team and governing body.

Our academy population is predominately white British (57.19%) with roughly equal number of boys and girls although this differs in some year groups. We have a higher than average number of students who are eligible for free school meals (39.1%, which is higher than all other Sandwell secondary schools) and that qualify for Pupil Premium (53%). There is a high level of socio-economic deprivation. The number of SEND students is significantly higher than national averages (26%) and 5% EHCPs.

Our academy improvement plan is compiled each year in discussion with all staff and governors. This makes use of comments from parents and students and aims to address inequalities that are shown through our data and raised through dialogue with all our stakeholders. Our aim is always to ensure that all students reach their full potential and make good progress.

Equality objectives