Our Commitment to Equality

At St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School, we are committed to promoting equality, inclusion and respect for every member of our school community.

As a Catholic school, our approach is rooted in the belief that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and has inherent dignity and worth. We aim to provide a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment in which every child is valued and given the opportunity to learn, participate, achieve and flourish.

We recognise and celebrate the diversity of our school community and wider society. We are committed to fulfilling our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and to ensuring that equality is reflected in our Catholic ethos, curriculum, policies and everyday practice.

How We Promote Equality

Equality, inclusion, dignity and respect are integral to the Catholic life and mission of St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School.

We promote equality by:

• creating a welcoming and inclusive Catholic school community where every individual is valued and treated with dignity and respect;

• providing a broad and inclusive curriculum which promotes understanding, tolerance, respect and appreciation of others;

• providing opportunities for pupils to learn about different cultures, religions, backgrounds and experiences;

• challenging discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes, harassment and discriminatory or derogatory language;

• promoting positive relationships and a strong sense of belonging;

• monitoring the attainment, progress and attendance of pupils to identify potential inequalities or barriers;

• providing targeted support where pupils or groups are identified as being at risk of disadvantage;

• providing appropriate support and reasonable adjustments for pupils with disabilities;

• supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to access the curriculum and participate fully in school life;

• promoting positive representations of diversity through books, curriculum resources, assemblies, visitors and wider school experiences;

• ensuring that behaviour and anti-bullying procedures address prejudice-related incidents appropriately;

• providing opportunities for pupils to participate in clubs, educational visits and enrichment activities;

• listening to pupil voice and encouraging pupils to contribute positively to the inclusive culture of our school;

• working in partnership with parents, carers, the parish and wider community;

• considering equality and accessibility when reviewing school policies, practices and provision.

Equality Information

We regularly consider information about our pupils and school community to identify potential inequalities, patterns of disadvantage and barriers to achievement or participation.

As appropriate, we consider information relating to:

• attainment and progress;
• attendance and persistent absence;
• disadvantaged pupils;
• pupils with SEND and/or disabilities;
• behaviour and suspensions;
• participation in clubs, educational visits and enrichment opportunities;
• bullying and prejudice-related incidents;
• pupil voice and wellbeing;
• feedback from parents and carers.

This information enables us to evaluate our provision, identify areas requiring further action and make informed decisions about our equality priorities.

Information about individual pupils and members of our school community is treated carefully and proportionately. We do not publish information where doing so could identify an individual.

Our Equality Objectives 2026–2029

In setting our equality objectives, the Governing Body has considered the needs and context of St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School and identified areas in which focused action can further promote equality of opportunity, understanding and inclusion.

Our priorities for 2026–2029 are:

Equality in Action

At St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School, our commitment to equality extends beyond policies and statements. It is reflected in our curriculum, Catholic life and mission, assemblies, visitors, educational experiences and the everyday relationships within our school.

We provide opportunities for our children to develop their understanding of equality and diversity, learn about the experiences of others and recognise the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Through these experiences, we aim to help our pupils:

• appreciate and respect cultural and religious diversity;

• understand that people may have different backgrounds, beliefs and experiences;

• recognise and challenge prejudice, discrimination and stereotypes;

• understand the impact that their words and actions can have on others;

• develop positive and respectful relationships;

• recognise the importance of fairness, inclusion and equality;

• develop the confidence to challenge inappropriate or discriminatory behaviour;

• contribute positively to our school and wider community.

Monitoring and Review

The Governing Body and school leadership team will monitor the school's progress in meeting its equality objectives and fulfilling the Public Sector Equality Duty.

We will use relevant school information, monitoring activities, pupil outcomes and the views of our school community to consider the impact of our actions and identify areas for further development.

Our published equality information will be reviewed and updated annually.

Our equality objectives will be reviewed at least every four years, although they may be reviewed sooner if evidence or changes within our school community indicate that this is appropriate.