Epworth Education Trust

Public Sector Equality Duty Statement of Intent

Equality Statement

This statement provides information about how Epworth Education Trust (the Trust) ensures it meets its Specific Duties under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) in relation to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).

The PSED requires the Trust, as a body carrying out public functions, to have due regard to:

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
  • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
  • Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

These are known as the General Duties of the PSED.

Having due regard to the need to advance equality of opportunity is defined further in the Equality Act 2010 as having due regard to the need to:

  • Remove or minimise disadvantages
  • Take steps to meet different needs
  • Encourage participation when it is disproportionately low.

The Trust is committed to actively examining current and proposed policies and practices, to ensure that they are not discriminatory under the Act.

To comply with the PSED the Trust will:

  • publish information annually to demonstrate how the Trust is complying with the PSED. This information must include, in particular, information relating to people who share a protected characteristic
  • prepare and publish specific and measurable equality objectives at least once every four years and
  • publish information annually on the gender pay gap of employees, where the Trust employs 250 or more staff.

Protected Characteristics

Under the Act, certain groups of society will be protected, by way of a particular characteristic. These are known under the Act as protected characteristics. The Trust has a statutory duty under the PSED to minimise or remove the disadvantages suffered by those with the below protected characteristics, and to promote equality for all.

The protected characteristics under the Act are:

  • Age (not applicable to pupils, but applicable to staff, parents and visitors)
  • Disability
  • Sex (gender)
  • Race (ethnicity)
  • Pregnancy and Maternity
  • Religion and Belief
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Transgender
  • Marriage and Civil Partnership (not applicable to pupils, but applicable to staff, parents and visitors)

Collection of Equality Information

We will collect and use equality information to help us to:

  • identify key issues, ensure equality for all and remove disadvantages suffered by those with protected characteristics
  • understand the impact of our policies, practices and decisions on people with different protected characteristics, and thereby make informed decision making to plan them more effectively
  • assess whether we are discriminating unlawfully when carrying out any of our functions and how we will eradicate this, as far as reasonably possible, in the future
  • ensure that staff and students alike are recognised for their talents
  • identify what the key equality issues are for our organisation and all those accessing the facilities, resources and benefits provided by the Trust.
  • prepare and publish information to demonstrate how our academy is complying with and meeting the PSED

Equality Objectives

Our equality objectives for 2022 - 2027 are:

  • To review our recruitment and selection policy and procedures and to update all recruitment forms to ensure no candidate with a protected characteristic is unnecessarily excluded from short-lists.
  • Contact our HR Information System to review fields to ensure there is accurate information recording of those employees with a protected characteristic
  • To ensure schools are fluid in responding to the changing needs of staff when disabilities or caring needs arise through our policies and procedures.
  • To review ways staff can communicate to the Trust with regards any possible discrimination so they feel they will be taken seriously and not victimised

Each individual academy within the Trust will publish the objectives which apply to their school community on their own website.

How We Implement the Duties of the PSED

The information below demonstrates the ways that the Trust implements the duties of the PSED:

1. Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.

  • Through the framework of policies implemented across the Trust
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
  • Supporting pupils with medical conditions policy
  • Staff code of conduct
  • Anti-bullying policy
  • Positive Behaviour
  • Child Protection Policy
  • Complaints Policy
  • Discipline and Grievance policies
  • Flexible Working Policy
  • Special Educational Needs and Disability Policy
  • Menopause Policy
  • Provision of training for all staff regarding the requirements of the Equality Act and their responsibilities.
  • Carrying out Equality Impact assessments

2. Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

  • Review of equality objectives by the Resources and Ethos & Effectiveness Committees
  • Monitor recruitment information for those with a protected characteristic and those who do not
  • Monitoring the workforce to ensure equality of opportunity in access to training and promotion opportunities

3. Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

  • Equality awareness training
  • Monitoring employee relations cases to identify trends in issues between those with protected characteristics and others
  • Provision of mediation in areas of conflict to find resolution of differences

 Each individual academy within the Trust will publish their compliance with the PSED on their website.

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