Equality and Diversity

At Guiseley School we share a commitment to equality, diversity and community cohesion across all sections of our school community. 

We encourage and support effective professional development for staff and governors to ensure we address the needs of all students, increase parental engagement and broaden representation of under-represented groups within all levels of staff and governing body. 

We welcome out duties under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations in relations in relation to the predicted characteristics of:

• Age (as appropriate for schools)
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion and belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation.

We also welcome our responsibility under the Public Section Equality Duty to assess the impact of our policies and practices on staff and pupils and take action to remove any obstacles identified, having due regard to:

• Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
• Advancing equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
• Fostering good relations across all protected characteristics between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

Guiding Principles

In fulfilling our statutory duties, we are guided by seven principles.

Principle 1: All members of Guiseley School and wider community are of equal value.

Principle 2: We recognise and respect diversity. 

Treating people equally does not necessarily involve treating them all the same. Our policies, procedures and activities must not discriminate, but are differentiated, as appropriate, to take account of differences of life-experience, outlook and background, and the kinds of barrier and disadvantage which people may face.

Principle 3: We foster positive attitudes and relationships, and a shared sense of cohesion and belonging. 

We intend that our policies, procedures and activities should promote:

• Positive attitudes towards disabled people, good relations between disabled and non-disabled people, and an absence of harassment of disabled people
• Positive interaction, good relations and dialogue between groups and communities different from each other in terms of ethnicity, culture, religious affiliation, or national origin, and an absence of prejudice related bullying incidents
• Mutual respect and good relations between boys and girls, women and men, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and an absence of sexual homophobic harassment; and
• Promote positive intergenerational attitudes and relationships.

Principle 4: We will ensure that the recruitment, retention and ongoing development of staff is undertaken in a fair and equitable manner to support Guiseley School's vision and values. Policies and procedures benefit all employees and potential employees. 

Principle 5: We aim to reduce and remove inequalities and barriers that already exist. In addition to avoiding or minimising possible negative impacts, we take opportunities to maximise positive impacts by reducing and removing and barriers that may exist. 

Principle 6: We consult widely. 

People affected by a policy or activity should be consulted and involved in the design of new policies, and in the review of existing ones. 

Principle 7: We feel that the community as a whole should benefit.

We intend that our policies and activities should benefit society as a whole, both logically and nationally, by fostering greater social cohesion, and greater participation in public life. 

Information and Resources

The content of this policy statement is shared regularly with all staff and governors and, as appropriate, to all pupils, parents and carers. 

All staff and governors have access to a selection of resources that discuss and explain concepts of equality, diversity and community cohesion in appropriate detail.