The Heathland School is committed to ensuring equality of education and opportunity for staff, pupils and those receiving services from the school.

What is the equality duty?

This duty extends to all the aspects of a person’s identity – known as ‘protected characteristics’ – that are protected under the Equality Act 2010. These are race, disability, sex, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation , pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment.

The equality duty has two main parts: the ‘general’ equality duty and ‘specific duties’. The general equality duty sets out the equality matters that schools need to consider when making decisions that affect pupils or staff with different protected characteristics. This duty has three elements. In carrying out their functions public bodies are required to have ‘due regard’ when making decisions and developing policies, to the need to:

1. Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act 2010.
2. Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
3. Foster good relations across all protected characteristics – between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

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:

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

At The Heathland School achievement of all pupils is monitored and we will use this data to raise standards for all groups of pupils and ensure inclusive teaching.  We will aim to provide our pupils with a firm foundation that will enable them to fulfil their potential, regardless of stereotypes.  We will seek to eliminate unlawful discrimination against pupils and staff by adhering to our duties as an employer under the legislation.  We believe that diversity is a strength which should be respected and celebrated by all those who  earn and work at The Heathland School.

Equality Objectives 2026 - 29

Our Equality Objectives reflect the School's priorities and draw upon available data as well as other evidence. Careful analysis is undertaken to ensure that, as a School, we are working to achieve improved outcomes for different groups.

Our Equality Objectives are:

To narrow gaps in attainment and progress between different key groups of students

To achieve this we will monitor key data for protected characteristics, linking to behaviour, attendance and punctuality and achievement and take appropriate action where issues relating to equality are raised. 

• To continue narrowing the gaps in attainment between boys and girls
• To continue narrowing the gaps in attainment and disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils
• To continue narrowing the gaps in attendance figures between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils

To continue to promote a greater understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion through whole school events and opportunities, through staff training and curriculum content.