Community Cohesion April 2013

St Anne’s RC Primary School – Working, Learning and Caring Together!

St. Anne’s RC Primary School upholds the Christian ethos and promotes spiritual, moral and social and cultural values within a Christian context. We will work towards eliminating all discrimination, on the grounds of race, gender, gender reassignment, disability, sexuality (including sexual orientation), age, religion and belief. We believe that all pupils, employees and other service users should be treated with dignity and respect at all times and we will not tolerate bullying, harassment or victimisation of any group-s or individuals.

We will play our part in helping all learners to become members of a welcoming and cohesive community. This will fit them for life in England, in the United Kingdom, whose population has an increasingly rich diversity of backgrounds, origins, beliefs and cultures.

We will help all to belong and to feel equally valued as members of our school, our parishes, our local community, our diocese, our country and our world.

Our Vision To create a fair and just school community, that promotes social inclusion, community cohesion and equality, that respects diversity and which challenges and acts upon discrimination and inequality including bullying.

St. Anne’s provides education for all, acknowledging that the society within which we live is enriched by diversity. We strive to ensure that the culture and ethos of the school reflects the diversity of ALL members of the school community, where everyone is equally valued and treats one another with respect and fairness. Pupils are provided with the opportunity to experience, understand and celebrate diversity.

Objectives 1. To help everyone see our school as a community in which all are equal because we are made in the image of God. 2. To ensure that all are welcome and that there is a common vision and sense of belonging by all as a part of our school, our parishes and our local community.

3. To help all in school appreciate and value the wide range of diversity of people's different backgrounds and circumstances.

4. To teach children about our Catholic Faith and the core values shared with other faiths such as justice, peace, respect, forgiveness, tolerance.

5. To teach children about other world faiths and cultural traditions including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism & Buddhism.

6. To help all learn about our nation’s history, culture, traditions and its developing and changing nature, as well as an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of being a human being and a citizen of the United Kingdom.

7. To ensure that all are treated fairly and equally and given similar life opportunities.

8. To ensure that strong and positive relationships exist and continue to be developed in schools and in its wider community.

9. To involve children in local, national and global partnerships which extend their understanding of issues relating to diversity, unity and equality.

10. To help children experience other languages and cultures and to appreciate, respect and enjoy the richness of diversity in our society.

St Anne’s RC Primary School – Working, Learning and Caring Together!

Our Principles 1. In order to promote equality, diversity and cohesion within the local community, we believe that our organisation has to reflect all the communities and people it serves; 2. Discrimination should be challenged on the grounds of gender, race, age, disability, sexuality (including sexual orientation), religion or belief; 3. Our vision for equality and diversity goes beyond establishing processes to achieve change. We will monitor progress made towards meeting objectives to: * Take adequate steps to prevent discrimination * Take decisive action when discrimination occurs * Take steps to promote equality, diversity and cohesion 4. We accept the findings of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report, with particular respect to the Macpherson definition of ‘institutional racism,’, which is: ‘The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people’ 5. We recognise that the Macpherson definition of ‘institutional discrimination’ in relation to race can be equally applied to other equality strands; 6. We acknowledge the Stephen Lawrence Enquiry definition of a racist incident is “any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person”.

7. We also recognise that all pupils may experience harassment and bullying and in tackling these issues in school, we use the same definition that such an incident is perceived to be harassment or bullying by the victim or another person, until proven otherwise; 8. We will continue to develop preventative measures to deal with discrimination including promoting human rights and equality through the PSHCE Curriculum and in particular focusing on the ‘rights of the child’, the ‘right to education’ and the ‘right to be safe’; 9. Our SEN policy and Accessibility Plan demonstrate our commitments to Pupil Participation, Parent Partnership, Resource Allocation and Curriculum Access.

10. Involvement and engagement with pupils, staff, governors, parents and with the wider community will form part of our equality, diversity and cohesion strategy with clear objectives and timescales; 11. Partnerships with parents, governors and the wider community are essential to promote equality, diversity and community cohesion. The schools engagement with partners is central to our overall strategy and forms a key part of our Equality, Diversity and Cohesion Strategy and School Improvement Plan; 12. We will encourage diversity and eliminate unfair treatment and discrimination through a full range of human resource policies and procedures in particular in the areas of recruitment, training and development and promotion; Strategies 1. We will provide excellent role models for community cohesion within our school and Parish communities, working and learning together.

2. We will promote community cohesion by developing our teaching, learning and curriculum to help all children to learn and understand others. They will learn to value diversity whilst recognizing shared values.

St Anne’s RC Primary School – Working, Learning and Caring Together!

3. We will develop an understanding of human rights and responsibilities in all our work.

We will expect everyone to apply and defend these human rights and responsibilities.

4. We will develop the skills of participation and responsible action necessary for living together as children of God and citizens of England within the United Kingdom.

5. We will promote equity and excellence to ensure equal opportunities for all to succeed and do well.

6. We will provide access and participation in learning and in wider activities while working to eliminate variations in outcomes for different groups.

7. We will provide reasonable means for children, young people, their friends and families to interact with people from different backgrounds and build positive relations. This will include, where appropriate, links with different schools and communities.

8. Where we can, we will offer access to provision of extended service. This will create opportunities for pupils, families and the wider community, to take part in activities and receive services which build positive interaction and achievement for all groups.

9. We will ensure that as far as possible our workforce and governing body reflects diversity at all levels of the organisation. We aim to be an inclusive employer that positively values the contribution of all employees. Through both our employment policies and strategies, we aim to achieve equality for all sections of the workforce and the community we serve.

10. We will monitor and evaluate equality which is essential to ensure pupils are not being disadvantaged, and we will produce relevant action plans based on the outcomes of our monitoring and evaluation.

11. We will work with all sectors of our community including ethnic minorities and new migrants in our community.

12. We will care for the sick, disadvantaged, poor and elderly members of our community.

13. We will establish links with other schools, including those within more and less ethnically diverse areas.

14. We will care for our environment in the context of God’s creation and ethical issues.

15. We will develop local, diocesan, national and global partnerships to ensure an appreciation of and understanding of our responsibilities in these different contexts.

16. We will support and be actively involved in both our parish communities through different active ministries and participation in parish events.

17. We will monitor staff in post, all applicants, short listed candidates and candidates appointed.

18. We will involve children of all faiths in the liturgical life of the school and we will ensure Prayer and Worship takes account of the diverse needs of children’s backgrounds and religious commitments.

19. We will consistently challenge all put-downs, harassment, name-calling, bullying, threatening or hurtful behaviour (physical and psychological) that violates a group- or individual and leads to marginalisation, exclusion and feelings of powerlessness and worthlessness because of; colour, culture, ethnicity, faith, religion, belief, national origin, national status, disability or impairment, perception of sexuality including sexual orientation, gender, marital status, socio-economic background, age, responsibility for dependants and trade union membership; 20. We strive to be a ‘telling’ school. We listen to all our school community members including pupils, parents, staff, visitors, wider community members, stakeholders and

St Anne’s RC Primary School – Working, Learning and Caring Together! partners. We take seriously all experiences of bullying and hurtful behaviour resulting from bullying such as racism. We invite all our pupils in particular to talk to us about bullying, where it happens, who is doing it, and what it involves.

OUTCOMES Through our work and partnerships we will promote cohesion and provide a common point of communication for a wide range of people. We will equip young people to make a positive contribution, to care for and contribute to the community, to understand human rights and gain an international perspective of their world. We will develop responsible young citizens who support cohesion.

This policy will make a key contribution to the school’s positive ethos. It should be read in conjunction with other school policies including ; Single Equality Policy, Behaviour Policy, SEN Policy Date of original policy: Date of revised policy: Date presented to SLT Staff: Date presented to Curriculum Governor Committee Full Governing Body Date approved by governors: Signed Headteacher: Mrs K Orrell Signed Chair of Governors: Father D Glover

St Anne’s RC Primary School – Working, Learning and Caring Together!

Appendix 1.

Example of Community Cohesion Activities 2012-13.

Policy Strand Activity 1. To help everyone see our school as a community Assemblies and collective worship activities. in which all are equal because we are made in the image of God

2. To ensure that all are welcome and that there is a common vision and sense of belonging by all as a part of our school, our parishes and our local community.

School prayer.

RE curriculum.

Community fundraising to support vulnerable groups.

Cornerstones food collections St Joseph Penny fundraising Relay of Prayer Participation in Crumpsall Carnival Anti-Bullying Week

3. To help all in school appreciate and value the HSBC Global Education Programme. wide range of diversity of people's different backgrounds and circumstances.

Links with schools : Argentina (early stages of development) Black history month Y6 literacy study

4. To teach children about our Catholic Faith and the core values shared with other faiths such as justice, peace, respect, forgiveness, tolerance

RE and Collective Worship polices and schemes of work.

School Chaplains Visits to Marist Centre School Chaplains Walsingham retreat RE World Faith Topics Visiting speakers – KS1 – Festivals from other religions History curriculum Black History Month Study (Upper KS2) Irish heritage centre visits HMP visit Police visits

5. To teach children about other world faiths and cultural traditions including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism & Buddhism 6. To help all learn about our nation’s history, culture, traditions and its developing and changing nature, as well as an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of being a human being and a citizen of the United Kingdom .

7. To ensure that all are treated fairly and equally and given similar life opportunities.

Home School Agreement Schools Single Equality Policy Behaviour policy

8. To ensure that strong and positive relationships exist and continue to be developed in schools and in its wider community.

Jubilee celebration Singing at community venues Celebrating Mass with visiting students from Michael Ham Colegio

9. To involve children in local, national and global partnerships which extend their understanding of issues relating to diversity, unity and equality.

Money skills partnership with Barclays Bank.

Community links programme with RBS-sustainability HSBC Global Education Program

10. To help children experience other languages and cultures and to appreciate, respect and enjoy the richness of diversity in our society

Links with Michael H School in Argentina European Day-language and cultural study HSBC Global Education visit.

Relay of Prayer – Singapore study