Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

'We believe that every individual has the right to be valued, respected and offered equal opportunities, access and treatment. STEP Academy Trust is committed to providing an inclusive and diverse culture and to eradicating discrimination and stereotyping to make our Academies truly inclusive and promote high achievement for all.'

-STEP Equality Policy, 2023

 

At Telscombe Cliffs Academy, staff and children are proud to champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our aim is to give visibility to the different layers of representation that exist in our school community and wider society. There is not a hierarchy, however we make equitable decisions to level the playing field or find balance where historically we have seen a lack of representation.

This is evident in our school in many ways; in our PSHE learning, in the rich texts we read by a range of authors with varied backgrounds, in our assemblies, and through the excellent work done by our Pupil Parliament.

RACE Charter Mark

Race and Conscious Equality (RACE) Charter Mark is for schools wishing to demonstrate their commitment to action and improvement in relation to race equality in all aspects of their work, as educators, employers and community leaders.

Developed by SSAT (the  Schools,  Students  and  Teachers  network) and  Fig  Tree  International, the Race and Conscious Equality (RACE) Charter Mark is for schools, academies and  colleges,  both in  the  state  and  private  sectors, in  the  UK  who  wish  to  demonstrate  their commitment  to  action  and  improvement  in  relation  to  race  equality in  all  aspects  of  their  work  as educators,  employers  and  community  leaders.

Telscombe Cliffs Academy has completed a comprehensive package of training for governors, senior leaders and middle leaders, and submitted an evaluation detailing their work towards equality so far and an action plan pledging their commitment to ongoing development in this area. Following this work, we were awarded the prestigious 'Bronze RACE Charter Mark'.

Rights Respecting Schools Award

We are currently working towards achieving the 'Rights Respecting Schools' Silver Award. This award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into practice within the school and beyond.

EDI calendar 2024/25

Each month in our school, we focus on a different aspect of Equality, Diverstiy and Inclusion in our assembly time. Children will learn about key figures who represent a variety groups within our society, learn about significant historical events, and consider current affairs relating to each theme.

This year in our EDI assemblies, the focus is:

September – Inclusion

Assembiles and events in school:

  • International Day of Charity 
  • Youth Mental Health Day 
  • National Inclusion Week 
  • International Day of Sign Languages
  • Pupil Parliment Assesmbly 

October – Race Equality 

Assembiles and events in school:

  • Anti-Racism Assembly 
  • Celebration of Black British Role Models 
  • Play Leaders Aseembly 
  • Anti-Racist Commitment 

November - Diversity and Respect 

Assembiles and events in school:

  • Bonfire night 
  • World Science Day 
  • Remberence Assembly 
  • Anti-Bullying week
  • Chrildren in Need 
  • Rights Respecting Schools 
  • Anne Bickmore Visit 
  • Discrimination assembly 
  • Tuesday 12th November - Regional Debates Round 1

December - Discrimination 

  • Tuesday 3rd December - Regional Debates Round 2

January – Human / Children's Rights 

February – Mental Health / Health Equity 

March – Neurodiversity 

April – Autism Awareness 

May – Family equality

June – Pride

July - Disability