Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion

Reach-for-Excellence-Logo

Our core purpose

At Harrogate Grammar School, our core purpose is to provide ‘excellence for all’ and we achieve this through the five REACH values that we embody, role model and teach: Respect, Excellence, Adventure, Commitment and Honesty. In practical terms, we have three pillars in our school of focus – a culture of respectful relationships, an aspirational and inclusive curriculum and expert teaching.

Within our Culture Pillar, our school community demonstrates.

A culture of respectful relationships and exceptionally good behaviour for learning
A community where we all manage our emotions and take responsibility for our choices
A community where everyone feels safe, well supported and that they belong
A community where all members are given the opportunity to develop

At Harrogate Grammar School, we actively seek to promote equality and to celebrate the diversity within our school and community and the world beyond Harrogate.

As a school we have a duty under the Equality Act 2010, to ensure protection on the grounds of specific characteristics (referred to as protected characteristics). For schools, this means that it is unlawful to discriminate against students or treat them less favourably because of their sex; race; disability; religion or belief; gender reassignment; sexual orientation; pregnancy or maternity.  Marriage and civil partnerships and age are also ‘protected characteristics’.  These apply to staff but not students in schools.

What is our duty?

To eliminate discrimination, harassment, and victimisation
To promote equality of opportunity and outcomes for all
To foster good relationships between people of different groups
To support our students in becoming kind, responsible and knowledgeable global citizens
To meet the statutory duties of the Equalities Act 2010

Harrogate Grammar School (26)

Equality and Accessibility Policy

Our Equality and Accessibility Policy contains information about how we comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Equality policy

Equality Objectives

In accordance with the Equality Act (2010), we have published a series of Equality Objectives, which we are working towards.

This includes the following key objectives:

To undertake an audit of the curriculum to ensure full coverage of all aspects of equality, diversity, social justice, and global citizenship.
Within this curriculum, to ensure that we embed work on homophobia / biphobia / transphobia and discrimination linked to race, faith, gender, and disability.
To continue to build understanding of, and empathy with, refugees and asylum seekers and those facing socio-economic disadvantage.
To challenge stereotypes, which can deny opportunities to students.
To promote equality, diversity, and inclusion across our staff body. This will be achieved through a variety of means, including promoting flexible working, transparency in the gender pay gap, and training for staff to raise awareness and as a result eliminate any unconscious bias in all aspects of school life.
To use data to monitor student achievement and attendance, in order to narrow the gaps between groups of learners, subjects, courses and key stages.
To further improve accessibility across the school for staff, students, and visitors with disabilities, including access to specialist teaching areas.
To work towards achieving the Equalities award – www.equalitiesaward.co.uk

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - The Red Award

Equality and inclusion sit at the heart of our REACH values and shape everything we do as a school. We are committed to celebrating the identity, individuality, and unique strengths of every pupil and member of our wider school community, fostering a culture where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.

As a school, we recognise our legal and moral responsibility to eliminate discrimination and to ensure that all pupils have equitable opportunities to thrive and succeed. Our commitment to equality and inclusion is embedded across all areas of school life - from our curriculum and policies to our daily practice and wider school culture.

Having already shown our commitment to equality, Diversity and Respect by achieving the Red Award, our ambition over the next two years is to continue strengthening this work and to achieve the ‘EqualiTeach’ Equalities Award at Silver level, reflecting our ongoing dedication to being an inclusive and forward-thinking school. We focus on a number of key areas:

Curriculum design and review: Subject curricula are systematically and regularly audited across all faculty areas to ensure that they reflect and promote diversity in all its forms. Diversity is purposefully embedded within curriculum planning to challenge stereotypes, address misconceptions, and develop pupils’ cultural awareness, empathy, and critical thinking.
Whole-school communication and awareness: The weekly school Bulletin, shared with pupils, parents/carers, and staff, includes a regular ‘Spotlight’ feature that raises awareness of significant cultural, social, and religious events. This supports pupils’ understanding of protected characteristics and contemporary issues, including Pride Month, Black History Month, and key religious festivals.
Pupil leadership and student voice: Sixth Form Diversity and Inclusion Ambassadors provide strong pupil leadership in promoting equality and inclusion across the school. They act as visible role models, support discussion within the wider pupil body, and actively gather pupil voice to inform planning, activities, and whole-school initiatives.
Personal development and pastoral provision: Equality, diversity, and inclusion are embedded within the school’s pastoral curriculum, including the Big Picture and Sixth Form Progression programmes, as well as the weekly assembly programme. This ensures pupils develop respect for difference and a clear understanding of British values, contributing to a safe and inclusive school culture.
Visible commitment to inclusion: The school demonstrates its commitment to equality and inclusion through visible symbols, including a display of flags at the front of the school. These are used purposefully to celebrate cultural diversity, welcome international visitors, recognise significant achievements, and reinforce messages of unity, respect, and shared values.
Safeguarding and reporting concerns: All pupils have access to the ‘Reach Out’ reporting app, enabling them to report incidents relating to inappropriate behaviour or discrimination, including those linked to protected characteristics. Reports are monitored by the safeguarding team and Year Managers and are followed up promptly. Where necessary, restorative and educational interventions are implemented to ensure pupils understand the impact of their actions and to prevent recurrence.

The Red Kite Alliance RED Award, recognises schools for their commitment to, and success in, embedding a culture of Respect, Equality and Diversity.

Engagement with the award signals a clear commitment to place this agenda at the heart of the life and work of the school.

The Award Provides

a framework within which schools can evaluate their current provision in terms of equality, diversity, respect for individuals and community cohesion;
a route map to help schools to build on what they already do well, to plan actions to strengthen their provision and to embed a cohesive, inclusive, respectful ethos across the entire school;
a vehicle for schools to celebrate the richness and diversity of the whole school community, as well as the school’s collective achievements in this area of its provision.

The Red Kite Alliance RED Award also supports schools to meet their statutory duties, including those which fall under The Equality Act 2010.

Visit the Red Award webpage for more details.

Harrogate Grammar School is proud to be a part of this initiative, and we would like to let our school community know that we were awarded the ‘RED Award’ in 2024. As a school community we are committed to continuing this work to celebrate the diversity of our community and to work towards equality in all its forms and equitable provision in our aim of ‘Excellence for all’.

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Accessibility Plan Policy

The purpose of the accessibility plan is to increase the extent to which disabled pupils can participate in the curriculum, improve the physical environment of the school to enable disabled pupils to take better advantage of education, benefits, facilities and services provided and improve the availability of accessibility information for disabled pupils and parents.

Accessibility Plan policy

Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion