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. 

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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’.