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'.

If you would like to find out more about STEP's antiracism policy please follow the link here Anti-racism and Diversity - STEP Academy Trust

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 2025/26

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

Assemblies and events in school:

• UK National Inclusion Week 
• Rights Respecting schools 
• International Day of Peace 
• International Day of Sign Languages 

October – Race Equality 

Assemblies and events in school:

• Black History Month
• Mental Health Day
• Jewish festivals
• Show Racism the Red Card

November - Diversity and Respect 

Assemblies and events in school:

• Bonfire night 
• Rights Respecting School quiz
• Remembrance Assembly 
• Anti-Bullying week
• Children in Need 
• Pupil Parliament 
• World Children's Day
• Odd socks day for Anti-bullying 
• Inter-faith week

December - Discrimination 

Assemblies and events in school:

• Disability History Month
• Children's Rights assembly 
• Human Rights Day 
• Pupil Parliament 
• Christmas celebrations 

January - History - Changes over time 

Assemblies and events in school:

• World Braille Day
• World Religion Day 
• British Values 
• Martin Luther King Day
• International Day of Education
• Holocaust Memorial Day 
• Pupil Parliament 

February - Race equality 

Assemblies and events in school:

• UK race equality week 
• Equality 
• Woman and Girls Science Day
• STEM girls 
• St Valentine's Day
• Ramadan begins 

March - Neurodiversity/Woman's History month 

Assemblies and events in school:

• National Carer Week 
• Neurodiversity Celebration Week
• Sign Language Week
• International Women's Day 
• Mother's Day 
• Eid-al-Fitr 

April - Autism awareness month 

Assemblies and events in school:

• World Autism Awareness Day
• World Health Day 
• Easter Sunday 
• Earth Day
• St George's day 

May - Mental health/ health equity 

Assemblies and events in school:

• Deaf Awareness Week 
• Mental Health Awareness Week 
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 
• African World Heritage Day
• Lewis Hine Assembly
• Tricky mornings - when getting ready for school is stressful

June - Disability Pride Month

Assemblies and events in school:

• Carers Week
• Child Safety Week
• World Environment Day
• Eid-Al-Adha
• Father's Day
• D-Day Assembly 
• Disability Awareness 
• Windrush Day
• Islamic New Year
• World Refugee Day 

July - Pride

Assemblies and events in school:

• South Asian Heritage Month 
• World Youth Skills Day 
• Pupil Parliament 
• Pride 

Activities and events in school:

Rights respecting school

At Telscombe Cliffs Academy, we are committed to providing a holistic education that empowers children to become confident, responsible, and respectful members of our community. A key part of this commitment is helping pupils understand their rights—such as the rights to be safe, to learn, and to be heard—which supports them in developing a strong sense of self‑worth.

Learning about children’s rights also nurtures mutual respect. Pupils come to understand that every child, everywhere, deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness. This knowledge not only strengthens their personal confidence but also reinforces our dedication to creating a positive, inclusive, and supportive school environment. We actively encourage children to express themselves, speak up respectfully, and take part in decisions that affect them.

To further support this learning, all pupils received a free illustrated booklet and poster outlining children’s rights. This was created in collaboration between STEP pupils and illustrators Pip Wilson and Ian Long, these engaging resources offer a fun and accessible way for families to explore children’s rights together, both in school and at home.

Show Racism the Red card

Telscombe Cliffs Academy is proud to stand by its pledge to be an anti‑racism establishment. This commitment was clearly demonstrated as pupils, families, and staff came together in a sea of red to support Show Racism the Red Card.

Show Racism the Red Card was founded in 1996 after Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop was subjected to racial abuse—an incident that inspired the creation of an organisation dedicated to educating people about racism and promoting anti‑racist attitudes.

In October, our focus has been on Black History Month. Weekly assemblies have celebrated Black history and introduced pupils to influential figures who have shaped society.

On Thursday 16th October, following a whole‑school assembly led by our Race Champion, Miss Bryden, every class took part in an afternoon of learning centered on identity, stereotypes, and allyship. These sessions encouraged thoughtful discussion and helped pupils deepen their understanding of how they can contribute to a fairer, more inclusive community.

Anti-bullying week 

On the 10th October, in line with our EDI calendar, the focus was anti‑bullying. On Monday, we celebrated Odd Socks Day with a whole‑school assembly, using resources from the Anti‑Bullying Alliance. The theme for this year was “Use Your Power For Good”, and we spoke about speaking out when we see any type of injustice. Children then completed additional lessons in their classrooms around anti‑bullying, including learning about the many roles involved.

Remembrance

On Tuesday 11th November, our new Pupil Parliament represented Telscombe Cliffs Academy at the Meridian Centre Memorial, accompanied by Mr Ediss. Earlier that morning, Mr Ediss delivered his annual Remembrance assembly, sharing his reflections on the significance of the day. He also read extracts from a book written by his father about life in an East Sussex village during the Second World War, offering pupils a personal insight into this period of history.

The children read two poems by Wilfred Owen—Dulce et Decorum Est and Anthem for Doomed Youth—to the assembled crowd. Owen died just one week before the Armistice was signed in November 1918, making the readings particularly poignant. A wreath was also laid on behalf of the academy.

Children in Need

Children and staff showed their support for Children In Need in a fun-filled day of fundraising. Dressed in vibrant spots and stripes, they participated in creative art activities and exciting challenges during the afternoon. The day was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together, have fun and make a difference. The enthusiasm and effort from all the children made it a truly memorable event. 

Inter-faith week

Inter Faith Week is an annual initiative in November that aims to strengthen relationships between people of different religious and non-religious beliefs, celebrate the diversity of faith communities in the UK, and increase understanding of their contributions to society.  The week's main objectives are to strengthen inter faith relations, highlight the positive contributions of faith communities, and promote understanding between people of different religious and non-religious beliefs. 

Mr Ediss led an assembly and spoke about Children’s Right Article 14: Freedom of thought and belief: Children have the right to hold their own thoughts, ideas, and beliefs without interference. He also spoke about the British Value of ’Mutual Respect and Tolerance’. This involves treating all individuals with respect, regardless of their background, and respecting diverse opinions, beliefs, and backgrounds.

At the end of the assembly, four volunteers, representing four different world religions came up to the front of the assembly to share facts about their faith. Jabir spoke about Islam, Grace spoke about Christianity, Aparna spoke about Hinduism and Taj spoke about Sikhism.

January - British values, History and Changes Over Time 

In January, we have been focusing on what it means to be valued global citizens, with a particular emphasis on exploring British Values. Assemblies have revisited the five key values—Democracy, the Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect, and Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs—and explained why they are important in our school and wider community. These values are also embedded in whole-school initiatives and everyday learning. Please see below the links we make across our curriculum:

Democracy: Pupil parliament decisions, play leaders, debating championships, classroom debates, and structured discussions where all children have the opportunity to share their views.

The Rule of Law: School rules and routines, class charters, restorative conversations before consequences, visits from community police officers, and a consistently understood and applied behaviour policy.

Individual Liberty: Teaching pupils about their rights, celebrating individual talents, providing opportunities to explore new interests, and PSHE lessons that support pupils in making safe and informed choices.

Mutual Respect: The ‘R’ in STAR, PSHE teaching, restorative conversations supported by adults to ensure conflicts are resolved respectfully, high expectations around listening to others, and celebrating achievements in PUPAC assemblies.

Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs: RE lessons, celebrating festivals across a range of religions, and sharing texts, traditions and talents from a wide variety of cultures and belief systems.

 

 

Race Equality Month 

In February, we celebrated a range of organised national awareness days and weeks, through assemblies and classroom lessons.

Safer Internet Day was on the 10th February and the whole school engaged in an exciting assembly, led by Mr Shorer, around the use of AI and online safety. Learning has continued with follow up lessons in class for all pupils. There is further information for parents here: Parents and Carers - UK Safer Internet Centre

Children’s Mental Health Week ran from the 9th—15th February. A joint assembly was delivered to all children with Mrs Tabona and Claire Evans  from My Healthy Mind Schools Team. Telscombe Cliffs Academy prides itself on it’s approach to mental health and emotional wellbeing and pupils were reminded that it is okay to have worries and anxieties and to speak to trusted adults about this.  Information for parents can be found here: Families and communities - Children's Mental Health Week

 Race Equality Week ran from the 2nd—8th February and Miss Bryden led an assembly about this national event. Children were spoken to about what equality means and how we can all support this happening in our local community. In addition to this, Telscombe Cliffs Academy recently held an Arabic Coffee Morning — a wonderful event that brought together members of the school and wider community. During the morning, the idea of forming a Multicultural Parents Group was discussed. The vision is to hold regular meetings open to all, helping to build relationships, strengthen community connections and make use of the valuable skills parents can offer to support the school. If this interests you, please contact Miss Bryden for further information.

March - Neurodiversity and Woman's History

To celebrate Woman's history we had a whole school assembly to celebrate the International Day of Woman and Girls in Science. This is a day dedicated to recognising the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and to encouraging the next generation of girls to explore these exciting fields.

 Science shapes every part of our lives, from the technology we use to the medicines that keep us healthy. Yet for many years, women were underrepresented in scientific careers. Today, more women than ever are leading groundbreaking research, designing innovative solutions, and inspiring young people to dream big. By celebrating this day, we help children — especially girls — see that science is for everyone.

You don’t need to be a scientist to encourage a love of science. Small moments make a big difference:      

Ask questions together — “Why does that happen?” is a great place to start                                              

Explore nature, cook, build, or tinker — everyday activities are full of science                                         

Celebrate curiosity, even when things get messy or don’t work the first time       

Share stories of women in science to show children what’s possible

Your encouragement helps children feel confident to explore, experiment, and imagine. 

 

Pupil Parliament 

The Pupil Parliament continues to delight the school with their fortnightly assemblies. After sharing fascinating insights about Albert Einstein last time, this week they introduced us to two more inspirational figures: Mother Teresa and Mark Dean. Their “Inspirational People” segment is becoming a real highlight, and this most recent assembly may have been their best yet!  Pupils across the school are increasingly engaged, interacting confidently with the parliament members and listening attentively to their presentations. In addition to celebrating remarkable individuals, the parliament spoke about recent events within the school and shared exciting updates about what is coming up next. Their chosen Article of the Week was Article 23, which focuses on the rights and support of children with disabilities. A particularly moving moment came when the parliament welcomed a guest speaker, who spoke about her autism and explained why she considers it her superpower.

We are incredibly proud of the Pupil Parliament for their thoughtful assemblies, their leadership, and the positive influence they have across the school community.

 

Please also see the Key Information pages of our website for further information and our policies in respect of Equalities, and Inclusion and SEND