Equalities and Diversity at Brunswick Primary School
Achieving Success with determination and joy
We recognise and welcome our equality duties as set out in the Equality Act 2010 and give due regard to our need to:
- Eliminate discrimination.
- Foster good relationships between groups of people.
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
At Brunswick Primary school, we seek to foster a safe and supportive learning community where people feel valued and have a real sense of belonging. As an inclusive school, we work in partnership with each other to create a kind and respectful environment, where inequality and discrimination are challenged and aspirations for all are high.
In acknowledging similarities and differences between individuals and groups, we strive to ensure that differences do not become barriers to participation, access and learning.
Read our Policy Documents
Click here to read our Equalities Policy
Click here to read our Equalities Objectives
Click here to read our Equality leaflet
Click here to read our Accessibility Plan
We believe that effective equality practice will contribute to raising aspirations and achievement, keeping children safe from bullying and prejudice and from the dangers of radicalisation and extremism as we prepare them to live and work in a diverse world.
Our vision is ‘Achieving success with determination and joy’, as a community we encourage collaboration, inquiry and openness with the aim of working together to empowering the children to become creative builders of their future.
Fostering understanding
We work hard to ensure the whole school environment and curriculum reflects the diverse community within which we live.
We aim for all pupils in our school to see themselves reflected in the stories we read, the assemblies we hold and in our displays and curriculum. We also:
- Give clear messages about expectations as part of school values and this includes regular assemblies which make use of the Equality Calendar. For example, pupils learn about religious and cultural festivals, as well as key days in the national calendar e.g. Comic Relief, Remembrance, Mental Health Awareness and many more.
- Offer rich curriculum opportunities to learn about local and global diversity and citizenship. Learning quests provide opportunities for children to learn about other cultures through languages, food, costume, the Arts etc. Outside speakers and visitors including families are invited to come into school to offer enrichment opportunities and broaden understanding and awareness. Find out more.
- Support the development of a sense of global connectedness. One way we do this is through our focus language of each half-term. We were awarded the Foundation International Schools Award in July 2023 and have a link with a school in Uganda.
- Support local and national charities, such as the local food bank. We take part in national fund-raising events such as ‘Red Nose Day’ and ‘Children in Need’. This charity work also helps to foster good relations with the local and wider community and helps pupils to develop an awareness of others less fortunate than themselves.
PROMOTING BRITISH VALUES
All maintained schools must meet the requirements set out in section 78 of the Education Act 2002 and promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. Through ensuring pupils’ SMSC development, schools can also demonstrate they are actively promoting fundamental British values. (Nov 2014)
At Brunswick Primary School, we engage with the different strands in the following ways:
Democracy
Each year, pupils vote for two school councillors, twice a year. This is achieved through a democratic voting policy and includes pupils being given the opportunity to say why they want to apply for this role. The councillors play an important part in developments, choosing their own projects and acting as the voice of their classmates. They regularly ask their class for feedback and report back to the council. The democratic process is also used to vote for roles within classes.
Individual liberty
At Brunswick Primary school, we develop self-esteem, self-confidence and self-knowledge through the language of growth mindset and our Skills Builders. This makes learning visible and explicit and promotes the traits needed to be confident, independent learners. We also promote individual choice when learning, often offering self-selected challenges and open-ended group challenges. Through on-safety and PSHE lessons, pupils are consistently encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely. We celebrate everyone’s unique talents.
Mutual Respect of those of different faiths and beliefs
Pupils and staff care for and support each other and model respectful behaviours. This reflects our school values of community, compassion, curiosity and inclusion. We actively promote diversity through our understanding and celebration of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education lessons, PSHE lessons and assemblies reinforce messages of tolerance, understanding and respect for others. Our curriculum includes stories and learning from different countries and cultures as well as linking to important issues such as refugees and climate change.
We have a rigorous reporting system which records and deals sensitively with any isolated but prejudiced comments made by children to others.