The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to ensure protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of specific characteristics (referred to as protected characteristics). 

This means that it is unlawful to discriminate against students/staff or treat them less favourably because of their gender; race, disability; religion or belief; gender reassignment; sexual orientation; pregnancy or maternity; marriage or civil partnership or age.

The school’s general duties, with regards to equality, are:

• Eliminating discrimination.
• Fostering good relationships.
• Advancing equality of opportunity.

We will not discriminate against, harass or victimise any student, prospective student, member of staff or another member of the school community because of their:

• Gender.
• Race.
• Disability.
• Religion or belief.
• Sexual orientation.
• Gender reassignment.
• Pregnancy or maternity.

Holsworthy Community College aims to promote students’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, with special emphasis on promoting equality, diversity and eradicating prejudicial incidents for pupils and staff. Our school is committed to not only eliminating discrimination but also increasing understanding and appreciation for diversity.

Holsworthy Community College recognises that certain groups in society have historically been disadvantaged on account of unlawful discrimination they have faced on the basis of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

Our Equality Policy outlines a range of actions to eliminate prejudice, unlawful discrimination and victimisation within the school community and workforce.

Through our teaching and learning at Holsworthy Community College we aim to: 

To promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through all appropriate curricular and extra-curricular opportunities.

• To reduce prejudice and increase understanding of equality through direct teaching across the curriculum.

• To move beyond deterministic notions of fixed ability and to model teaching and learning behaviours that avoid labelling children.
• To promote cultural development and understanding through a rich range of experience, both in and beyond the school.
• To eradicate prejudice related bullying in relation to the protected characteristics listed in the Equality Act 2010.
• To tackle prejudice and promote understanding in relation to people with disabilities both in school and the wider community.

Our Equality Objectives are:

• To use performance data to monitor student achievement and respond to variations between groups of learners, subjects, courses and key stages, trends over time and comparisons with other schools
• To raise the awareness and skills of staff to promote fairness, equality and good relations in the context of their role
• To provide an environment that welcomes, protects and respects diverse people
• To ensure that all students are given the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the life of the school
• To address cultural events through House assemblies and the curriculum to increase student awareness and understanding of issues in different communities