Racial Equality Policy
Introduction
This policy statement underpins the Education Service Racial Equality Policy and reflects the Middlesbrough Council's Diversity Policy Statement. As part of our commitment to equal opportunities, Macmillan Academy will seek to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. It is illegal to discriminate - directly, indirectly or unintentionally.
Background
Macmillan Academy values the diversity of the local population and seeks to reduce social exclusion by being more responsive to community and individual needs. Macmillan Academy is fully committed to equality of opportunity for all people, across the full range of its activities as a provider and an employer. This pledge is expressed through the mainstreaming of race equality issues in policy development, consultation, implementation and evaluation.
To comply with the Commission of Racial Equality, Standards for Local Authorities, and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 it is a specific requirement that the Academy prepares a written Racial Equality Policy. This policy covers our service delivery and employment practices.
Macmillan Academy's approach to race equality will take into account recommendations from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report and to bring Macmillan Academy in line with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. Macmillan Academy has adopted the definition of a "racist incident" from Recommendation 12 of the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry as well as the definition of "institutional racism".
Aims and Objectives of the Policy
Service Delivery
- assess the impact of policies, practices and procedures.
establish monitoring systems.
- ensure that our Academy is accessible to black and minority ethnic communities, and where necessary, appropriate services are developed to meet identified needs.
- monitor the take-up of our Academy accordingly to ethnicity.
- train all our staff to fully understand all forms of racism.
- that all aspects of Academy life are culturally sensitive.
- monitors key results on attainment, exclusion and attendance with regard to ethnicity.
This information will then be used to develop policies and services and black and minority ethnic people.
Policy
Macmillan Academy will aspire to:
- have non-discriminatory policies and procedures, which comply with relevant legislation.
- promote equality of opportunity and good relationships between persons of different racial groups.
- establish effective consultation and liaison arrangements with black and minority ethnic communities to ensure that they are fully consulted on the development of equality policies.
- develop and employ effective procedures for dealing with and monitoring racist incidents in the Academy.
Employment
Macmillan Academy will do all in its power to eliminate racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity in employment. Macmillan Academy will endeavor:
- to achieve a racially balanced workforce, reflected at all levels.
- to gather and publish the number of black and minority ethnic staff employed.
- to ethnically monitor applicants for jobs and promotion.
- to monitor and analyse grievances, disciplinary action, performance management, training, dismissals and the use of exit interviews to establish their reason for leaving.
- to ensure that all advertising material sand literature relating to employment will avoid stereotyping black and minority ethnic people.
- to ensure that indirect discrimination does not occur through the use of unnecessary job criteria.
- to ensure that every selection decision is informed and fair by ensuring that shortlisting is based purely on facts and person specification.
Responsibilities for Implementing the Policy
The Governing Body of Macmillan Academy is to ensure that the policy is implemented in all areas of school life.
The Principal is to ensure that all staff and students comply with the policy.
Complaints Procedure (this section is currently under review)
Any employee who feels that they have been subject to racial discrimination should refer to the Academy's Personnel Handbook.
Macmillan Academy will be responsible for keeping a record of all racial complaints.
All complaints, of a racial nature will be recorded and will be made available to Governors.
Review
The Governing Body of Macmillan Academy will review, assess and monitor the policy.
To ensure it is working and to identify areas of improvement. This Racial Equality policy will be reviewed annually.
Procedures Should an Incident Occur
All incidents should be responded to immediately and appropriately. Referral may be necessary to HOD, HOY or Assistant Principal (Student Development).
Academy staff must understand that their reactions to such incidents will influence the attitudes of students. For example, a failure to respond may be seen as condoning racist behaviour.
Staff should acknowledge that students and staff who have experienced racism may have developed strategies to deal with this. Intervention should, where possible, support and empower students/staff who have suffered harassment. A balance should be struck between supporting students/staff and protecting them. For example,
the Academy's response, where appropriate, be discussed with students/staff involved.
The perception of the person who has experienced harassment should be given particular attention.
All incidents of racial harassment will be treated as serious disciplinary matters. As with any other serious disciplinary matter the way it is dealt with should be appropriate to the incident itself.
For example, a deliberate racist (verbal or physical) should be dealt with on the same basis as any other serious attack involving discipline of the offender, support for the student/member of staff who has been attacked and counselling for both parties. Where the incident is judged to be unintentional then the emphasis would be on
counselling and support for both parties.
Consistency in dealing with incidents is essential if students and staff are to be clear about the Academy's commitment to deal with racism.
