Last Reviewed on Thursday 1st August 2024
The Torbay and Devon Civic Award are committed to promoting a positive and diverse culture in which all staff are valued and supported to fulfil their potential irrespective of their age, disability, race, religion, belief, gender or sexual orientation. We recognise our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and are committed to promoting the equality and diversity of all those we work or associated with. We oppose all forms of discrimination, bullying and harassment and will make every effort to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and its subsequent provisions.
Introduction
The Torbay & Devon Civic Award is committed to being inclusive as we see diverse population of both pupils and working / supportive colleagues as one of the Torbay & Devon Civic Award greatest strengths. In order to ensure everyone can thrive and meet their full potential, it is essential that inclusion and equality of opportunity be at the core of all the the Torbay and Devon Civic Award activities.
The Torbay & Devon Civic Award is committed to a zero tolerance policy in relation to less favourable treatment on the grounds of any protected characteristic under the protected characteristics – Equality Act 2010 (www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/4). The protected characteristic are defined as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex and sexual orientation.
The Torbay and Devon Civic Award is committed to promoting and developing inclusion & equality of opportunity in all its functions and will seek to do this by:
(a) Communicating its commitment to equality and diversity to all members and supporters of its community.
(b) Ensuring all participating schools are aware of ths policy
(d) Developing monitoring, evaluation and review mechanisms of school policies and procedures and decision-making
(e) Demonstrating our zero tolerance attitude towards discrimination by taking all allegations seriously
Responsibility
All participating schools of The Torbay & Devon Civic Award have responsibility for ensuring that the School operates within the legal framework for equality and for implementing the policy throughout their schools.
Each member of the School community is responsible for being alert to and challenging discrimination; embracing diversity; respecting different faiths and beliefs; and upholding equality of opportunity for all.
The Legal Framework
Discrimination can take the following forms. including:
(a) Direct Discrimination – This occurs where a person is treated less favourably than others because of their (or a family member’s) actual or perceived protected characteristic.
(b) Indirect Discrimination – This occurs by applying a provision, criterion or practice, which disadvantages people on the grounds of a protected characteristic and which cannot be justified as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
(c) Victimisation – This occurs where an individual has exercised their rights under equality legislation (or has indicated that they intend to do so) and is treated less favourably as a direct result. It applies equally to a person who is supporting (or indicates that they intend to support) another person who is exercising their rights under the legislation.
(d) Harassment – This is defined as unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic which has the purpose OR effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating a hostile, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual.
(e) Disability Discrimination – This includes direct and indirect discrimination, any unjustified less favourable treatment because of the effects of a disability, and failure to make reasonable adjustments to alleviate disadvantages caused by a disability.
Aims and Values
The aims of this policy and the School’s ethos as a whole are to:
(a) Eliminate unlawful discrimination on the grounds of any of the protected characteristics
(b) Eliminate all bullying and unlawful discrimination on the basis that an individual has a learning difficulty or special educational need, or because English is an additional language
(c) Promote equality of opportunity for all members of the School community
(d) Comply with the School’s equality obligations contained in the Equality Act 2010
(e) Include and value the contribution of all families to our understanding of equality and diversity
(f) Provide and promote positive information about the diversity of UK society
(e) Actively challenge discrimination and ensure that all members of the School community learn from these experiences
(f) Embed inclusion through all our activities
To achieve these aims we will:
(a) Involve, where reasonably practicable, all members of the Torbay & Devon Civic Award community in the development, review, evaluation, and impact assessment of all relevant improvement plans, policies and procedures
(b) Ensure the wider school curriculum promotes and celebrates equality and diversity
(c) Operate a clear zero tolerance policy towards abusive or discriminatory behaviour
(d) Work in partnership with schools and the wider community to establish, promote and disseminate inclusive practice and help tackle discrimination
