Kirkham and Wesham Primary School – Equality Policy (Parent Version)

At Kirkham and Wesham Primary School, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, respected and able to achieve their full potential. Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to our vision of helping every child to Belong, Believe and Be the Best They Can Be.

We are fully committed to meeting our obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty, as outlined in the Equality Act 2010. We actively work to ensure that our policies, practices, and culture promote equality and inclusion for all members of our school community.

Under the Public Sector Equality Duty, the school must have due regard to the need to:

  • eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation

  • advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not

  • foster good relations between different groups within the school community

We promote equality for everyone, including those protected under the Equality Act 2010, such as age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, and marriage and civil partnership where applicable.

At KWPS, we are proud to provide a welcoming, caring and aspirational environment where all children can believe in themselves, celebrate their successes and grow into confident, responsible individuals. Our approach to equality is an important part of this vision.

We are committed to making sure every child, family member and staff member feels included, respected and supported, no matter their background, identity or circumstances. This means actively promoting fairness and making sure that discrimination, harassment or inequality have no place in our school.

We recognise that equality is about ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed. By providing high-quality adaptive teaching, reasonable adjustments and targeted support, we remove barriers to learning so that every pupil can access an ambitious curriculum, participate fully in school life and achieve their very best.

Our values – kindness, resilience, equity, honesty, responsibility and pride – guide us in all that we do. These values help shape a school community where everyone feels they belong and can do their best.

Our curriculum helps children develop respect, empathy and understanding of the diverse world around them. Through carefully planned learning, assemblies, books, visitors, celebrations and discussion, children learn to appreciate different cultures, beliefs, families and experiences while understanding the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Equality is promoted through our Personal Development curriculum, PSHE, British Values, collective worship, enrichment opportunities and pupil leadership roles, helping children become respectful, responsible and active citizens.

What Equality Means at KWPS

  • Every child has the right to a great education and to feel safe and included in school life.
  • Staff are trained to recognise and remove barriers that could affect children’s learning or wellbeing.
  • School activities, opportunities and responsibilities are open to all, and we make sure everyone has a fair chance to take part.
  • Lessons, displays and learning materials reflect the diverse community we serve and help children value differences.
  • We actively challenge unfair treatment, bullying or stereotypes and make sure all incidents are taken seriously and handled appropriately.
  • Our routines, trips and enrichment opportunities are planned so that all children, including those with disabilities or additional needs, can be included and thrive.

How Equality Links to Our Vision and Values

Our school vision speaks of every child becoming the best they can be and learning in a kind, supportive and aspirational environment. These aims are lived out in our everyday actions – in how we welcome families, how we teach, and how we make sure every voice is heard.

Our value of equity reminds us that equality is not just about treating everyone the same, but about giving each person what they need to succeed. Our values of kindness and responsibility guide how we treat others. Pride means celebrating ourselves and one another for who we are. And resilience means supporting children as they grow in confidence and face challenges with courage.

Working with Families and the Community

We know that the best learning happens when school and home work together. We aim to communicate clearly and involve parents and carers in school life wherever possible. Parent evenings, newsletters, surveys and informal conversations help us stay connected and hear your views.

We also make sure our information is accessible. If you need translated materials or support to understand school communications, we will do our best to help. We want every parent and carer to feel confident and welcome.

Our Equality Objectives

We regularly set goals to help us continue improving how we promote equality and inclusion. Our current Equality Objectives cover the period September 2025 to September 2029. Progress towards these objectives is reviewed annually by school leaders and governors.

Here are our current objectives:

Objective 1: To review participation in pupil leadership roles and wider school opportunities, including roles such as House Captains and playground helpers, to identify and address any barriers to participation and ensure pupils have equitable opportunities to be involved, regardless of gender, race, background, disability or additional need. Participation will be reviewed annually.

Objective 2: To ensure that staff and governors involved in recruitment and selection have appropriate and up-to-date training in equality and non-discrimination, with training records reviewed as part of the school's recruitment procedures.

How We Meet the Public Sector Equality Duty – Annual Information 2026–27

Each year, we review how well we are meeting the three aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty. This includes considering relevant information about achievement, attendance, behaviour, participation and the experiences of different groups within our school community.

During 2026–27, we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to the Public Sector Equality Duty by:

  • monitoring pupil achievement, attendance and behaviour to identify any differences between groups and taking appropriate action where necessary;
  • reviewing access to pupil leadership, clubs, trips, enrichment and wider school opportunities to help ensure equitable participation;
  • providing reasonable adjustments and adaptive approaches so that pupils with disabilities and additional needs can access learning and participate fully in school life;
  • challenging discriminatory language, bullying, stereotypes and prejudice and responding appropriately to any incidents;
  • ensuring our curriculum, assemblies, books, visitors and wider opportunities help pupils learn about and respect different cultures, religions, beliefs, families and experiences;
  • considering equality when reviewing policies, practices and significant decisions;
  • seeking the views of pupils, parents, staff and governors where appropriate to help identify barriers and inform improvements.

This information will be reviewed and updated annually.

Keeping Equality at the Heart of KWPS

Our school governors help us make sure this policy is followed and reviewed. We look at things like pupil progress, behaviour, attendance and feedback to spot any patterns and make positive changes.

The school monitors equality information through pupil achievement data, attendance, behaviour records and participation in school activities. This information is reviewed annually to identify any gaps between groups and to inform future equality objectives.

Where monitoring identifies a difference or potential barrier for a particular group, leaders consider the reasons for this and take appropriate action. Governors receive appropriate information to support their oversight of the school's equality duties.

We also involve staff, pupils and parents when developing and reviewing our equality work – whether through surveys, school council, parent voice meetings or informal feedback.

Final Thoughts

At Kirkham and Wesham Primary School, we believe our diversity makes us stronger. By celebrating individuality, removing barriers to success and promoting equality in everything we do, we ensure every child has the opportunity to Belong, Believe and Be the Best They Can Be.

If you ever have a question or concern about equality or inclusion at our school, please speak to a member of staff. We are always here to listen and help.