Equalities in schools

Current thinking and supporting legislation regarding equalities in schools often prioritises closing any gaps in achievement which may exist for certain groups of children and young people.  It is also about having procedures and strategies in place to ensure 'excellence for all' and schools are required to monitor the progress of all individuals towards fulfilling their academic potential in a discrimination-free environment as citizens of a multi-cultural society.

Since September 2009 Ofsted inspectors evaluate how effectively your school promotes equality of opportunity and tackles discrimination as a limiting judgement.  That means if the school is judged to be inadequate in this strand of the evaluation schedule, its overall effectiveness is also likely to be judged to be inadequate.

The following tools and links are intended to support the promotion of equalities and tackling of discrimination in your school and to contribute to your preparations for Ofsted inspection. 

• Quick guide to developing a single equalities and diversity scheme (please also visit the policy development area of this website)
• Excellence for all - a summary of key areas to develop equalities in your school
• Ofsted guidance to inspectors regarding the equalities judgement, updated September 2010
• Ofsted grade descriptors regarding the equalities judgement  
• Developing a diversity profile for your school (the same profile can be used to support your Community Cohesion strategy)
• Recording, reporting and responding to racist incidents in Northumberland schools
• Narrowing gaps

• for ideas on promoting respect for human rights through developing understanding about differences and valuing diverse experiences, visit our Community cohesion area - Teaching, learning and curriculum

• Race equality in schools - starting points

• Raising the achievement of BME pupils

• Tackling the SEF - an Ofsted exercise for evaluating your effectiveness in promoting equalities and tackling discrimination

• Suggested evidence you might like to present in support of your equalities and community cohesion evaluations

•  Glossary of commonly used equalities terms

Suggestions for further improving equalities, eliminating barriers to learning and closing achievement gaps:

• DCSF information and safeguarding guidance
• Every Child Matters guidance on safeguarding children and staying safe
• Admissions Code
• School uniform

For further support and training please contact Jane Walker.