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Equality

Equality Policy Statement

Highworth Grammar School believes that all individuals should be treated equally and seeks to eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity. A range of education programmes are provided by the school to encourage everyone to participate in learning. The equality implications of policies, procedures and practices, such as recruitment, marketing and procurement, are reviewed regularly to meet equality and diversity best practice.  Community cohesion is forged by fostering positive attitudes and good relations between people of differing characteristics, backgrounds, circumstances, religious beliefs and practices. It is important that every member of the school feels represented and has a sense of belonging to this community.   

The full policy can be found in the policy section of the website.

Equality Objectives

The following objectives are part of the Highworth School Management and Development Plan for 2024-26:

Equal Opportunities

  • Identification of students at risk of underperformance.
  • Support for students adversely affected by the Covid Pandemic and cost of living challenges.
  • Evaluation of initiatives undertaken to ensure effective use of Covid Catch-Up premium.
  • Vulnerable groups remain a focus to ensure high-quality educational experience for all students.
  • Evaluation of Pupil Premium strategy and the deployment of Pupil Premium funds.
  • All eligible Sixth Formers are in receipt of a bursary payment.
  • Effective strategies to support EAL students.
  • Continued development of whole school Literacy priorities.

Equality and Diversity

  • Regular review of systems and processes to ensure aspects of equality are considered and opportunities to celebrate diversity are embedded in subject curricula.
  • Equality Teams celebrate the diversity of the student body and society.
  • International Links are developed and strengthened to celebrate Highworth’s position in a global community..

Highworth Annual Equality Information

  • There is an Equality page on the school website. The Annual Equality Information and Equality Objectives are posted.
  • The Head of RE is the SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural development), British Values and PSHE Lead and advises on different faiths, perspectives and cultures.
  • There is a Student Equality Team with groups to focus on specific equality issues:
    • Afro-Caribbean Society, ACS - A group to celebrate and promote education of Afro-Caribbean culture
    • All Abilities Group - A neurodiversity and disability advocacy group
    • Asian Society - A group to celebrate and promote education of Asian culture
    • Feminist Society - A feminist issues advocacy group
    • High Pride - An LGBTQ+ advocacy group
  • Highworth is a designated physical disability school and offers selective places to students with a range of physical disabilities, including wheelchair users.
  • An Equality Review of the curriculum has been completed by all departments to identify best practice and seek areas for development.
  • All staff are invited annually to complete Show Racism the Red Card training on Promoting Equality and Tackling Racism in Schools.
  • The DSL delivered whole staff training on Prejudice Related Incidents and Safeguarding on Monday 2 September 2024.
  • The following Culture Days will be held in 2024-2025:
    • 19-23 September - Civic Exchange - Town twinning visit from partner school in Fougères, Lycée Jean Guéhenno
    • Thursday 26 September - European Day of Languages - European Council Day celebrating languages since 2001 (delivered by the Modern Foreign Languages Department)
    • Friday 18 October - Afro-Caribbean Society Culture Day - International school partnership with Kaduna Academy, Nigeria
    • Friday 22 November - Nepali Culture Day - Nepali school partnership with Gorkha Secondary School, Nepali Tihar Festival
    • Wednesday 29 January - Chinese New Year - Year of the Snake
    • Friday 4 April - Indian Culture Day - celebrating our new international school partnership and Hindu New Year (29 March)
    • Friday 9 May - Moroccan Culture Day - Moroccan school partnership with Le Mûrier, Ifrane
    • Wednesday 21 May - World Day for Cultural Diversity - UNESCO Day celebrating cultural diversity
    • Thursday 5 June - World Environment Day - Republic of Korea to host, focus on ending plastic pollution
    • Monday 23 June - International Day of Women in Engineering - on the birthday of Verena Holmes who was born in Gower House and has a building named after her on site.
    • Wednesday 9 July - Mexican Culture Day - Mexican school partnership with Instituto Miguel Angel.
  • The Director of International Programmes has achieved: The Global Teacher Award; The Global School Award; and The International School Award.
  • The Director of International Programmes has reviewed the connections between Highworth students and the global community. Maps have been displayed prominently in school to celebrate these connections.

The school has a British Council partnership with: the Gorkha Secondary School in Dang, Nepal; Usra Academy in Kaduna, Nigeria; Lycée Jean Guéhenno, Fougères, France; Collège Marie Thérèse, Fougères, France; Ellen Key Schule, Berlin, Germany; Le Mûrier, Ifrane, Morocco; Instituto Miguel Angel, Mexico.

Student Equality Teams

The Student Equality Teams are run by students and supported by staff members. The following groups have been set up by students:

Afro-Caribbean Society, ACS - A group to celebrate and promote education of Afro-Caribbean culture

The Afro-Caribbean Society is a student equality group with the aim to encourage all students to learn about, engage in and celebrate the joys of African and Caribbean culture. For Black History Month, we produced an educational programme to celebrate prominent African and Caribbean individuals in our society. During lunchtimes, we provide a relaxed environment for anyone to come along and watch films, have snacks and engage in provoking discussion. We have developed a partnership with a school in Northern Nigeria and, in the future, we hope to visit cultural exhibitions and strengthen relations between ACS students, alumni and the wider community.

All Abilities Group - A neurodiversity and disability advocacy group

The All Abilities Group is an inclusive disability and neurodivergence advocacy group. Our aim is to change perceptions of disability and neurodivergence, whilst educating people about discrimination and prejudice that neurologically diverse people and those with disabilities face. Neurodiversity, in simple terms, means that someone’s brain works in a different way. A physical disability means that someone has a physical limitation which changes how they go about their day to day life. A learning disability means that someone may struggle to learn new concepts quickly and may need help carrying out day to day activities. These differences are not always visible and are often referred to as “hidden.” The All Abilities Group is a space for students to talk about their experiences with neurodiversity and disability (either their own or among their family and friends), whilst helping educate people. Our aim is to celebrate our differences, because the world would be so boring if we were all the same.

Asian Society - A group to celebrate and promote education of Asian culture

The Highworth Asian Society was set up in June 2020 with the dual aim of both raising awareness and celebrating Asian culture and heritage in all its forms. We opened the Asian Society to represent the Central Asian, East Asian, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern cultures/connections of our students. Over the last year and a half, the student team has produced videos, informative Powerpoints and assemblies and even established a partnership with a school in Dang, Nepal! We  organise events throughout the calendar to celebrate Ramadhan, Diwali, Eid, the Chinese New Year, South Asian Heritage Month, Nepali Culture Day and host competitions such as the Henna Design Competition or Chinese Lantern Design Competition. We want to get students involved in sharing and understanding different cultures. Our ever-growing society is a real testament to the creativity, drive and spirit of the student team, and we are always excited to see what our next project will be! 

Feminist Society - A feminist issues advocacy group

The Feminist Society is a Student Equality Group that was set up to discuss and raise awareness of challenges faced by individuals in society due to gender inequality. The Society meets weekly and provides an open and safe forum for students to share their experiences, thoughts and opinions, and work together to raise awareness of gender inequality. Some topics we have covered in our meetings so far include representation of women in TV and film, perceptions of periods and period advertising, career inequality and street harassment.  The group will also be working with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that the school’s period support is meeting the needs of all students. 

High Pride - An LGBTQ+ advocacy group

High Pride is an inclusive LGBTQ+ advocacy group with the aim to help all areas of our community feel they belong without discrimination or prejudice.  We are focused on understanding how we all fit within society and promoting equality through the school.  We work to: develop opportunities for safe, constructive conversation and debate; build positive peer support; learn more about the history of the LGBTQ+ community; understand issues of today; and build a positive all-inclusive future.

Any student with an idea for a new Student Equality Team,

can speak to Mr House about their suggestion.