This information sets out our school’s approach to promoting equality, as defined within the Equality Act (2010), which covers sex, race, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pupils, and staff members who are pregnant and those undergoing gender reassignment.

Public Sector Equality Duty

The Equality Act 2010 requires schools to publish information that demonstrates that we have due regard for the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.  

Sacred Heart is an inclusive school committed to ensuring equality of provision throughout the school community. We focus on the well-being and progress of every child within an environment where all members of our community are of equal worth.

We believe that the Equality Act provides a framework to support our commitment to valuing diversity, tackling discrimination, promoting equality, and fostering good relationships between people. It also ensures that we continue to tackle issues of disadvantage and underachievement of different groups.

Equality – Aims and Values

Sacred Heart aims to provide equality and excellence for all and promote the highest possible standards of achievement, enjoyment, and fulfilment. These aims are promoted through our school values.

We aim to prepare our pupils for life in a diverse society where they are able to be involved in and celebrate all aspects of that society and are welcomed as part of it.

In order to ensure that all pupils are protected from discrimination, the school collects information on protected characteristics (see policy) as well as the following groups of pupils:

• Pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM)
• Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
• Disadvantaged group
• Pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL)
• Young carers
• Looked after children