This Race Equality Charter has been developed for schools by the Bath and North East Somerset Race Equality and Hate Crime Task Force Partnership.
The partnership is made up of representatives of the following organisations:
- B&NES Council
- Local schools
- Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI)
- Black Families Education Support Group
- Off The Record
- Avon and Somerset Police
The Charter is informed by:
- the views and experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic young people in B&NES
- good practice guidance on promoting race equality in education
- the legal requirements of the Equality Act
As signatories to the Race Equality Charter, schools are able to make a public statement of their commitment to the following aims:
- challenging racism and racial harassment
- promoting race equality and cultural diversity
- fostering good race relations
The Charter aims to provide schools with a robust and consistent framework to enable them to:
- identify issues relating to race and racism
- develop effective actions to address those issues
- achieve lasting, positive changes in relation to race equality within the education system across B&NES
Sign up to the Charter
As signatories to the B&NES Race Equality Charter for schools, we are committed to:
- Creating an inclusive, anti-racist school environment, where everyone feels they belong and race equality and cultural diversity are actively promoted
- Challenging all racist incidents, bullying and harassment, taking them seriously and dealing with them effectively in a supportive, meaningful and empowering manner
- Championing race equality through school leadership and governance and ensuring planning, policies and procedures effectively promote race equality and challenge racism
- Educating, enabling and empowering students to challenge racism, promote race equality and celebrate cultural diversity
- Teaching a curriculum that represents the ethnic diversity of our society and aims to raise the aspirations and attainment of all students by providing an education which includes the heritage, perspectives and contributions of all ethnic groups, challenges personal and institutional racism, and enables students to develop a strong sense of identity and belonging
- Ensuring equality of opportunity for students from all ethnic groups to succeed, aspire and achieve their educational potential, removing any barriers to progress and attainment and reducing any gaps between different ethnic groups
- Managing the behaviour of all pupils fairly and equally and adopting good practice strategies to address any differences in sanctions or exclusions between ethnic groups
- Making the admissions process accessible and equal for students from all ethnic groups and that strategies to maintain attendance take account of the backgrounds and needs of students from all ethnic groups
- Working in partnership with local communities and organisations to support our staff, students and parents in relation to race equality, cultural diversity and tackling racial discrimination and harassment
- Training all staff and governors to develop their understanding and knowledge so that they can teach, address and respond effectively to issues of race and racism
- Ensuring our recruitment procedures follow the law and guidance on race equality and allow us to employ and develop an ethnically diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve
- Routinely monitoring all aspects of the school to highlight any racial inequalities, understand their cause and take action to remove any unfairness or disadvantage
Support for Signatories
Once schools have signed up to the Charter, they are committed to implementing it. However, schools can set their own priorities and actions to achieve this.
All Signatories to the Race Equality Charter will be offered ongoing support and guidance to provide schools with information, advice, examples of good practice and resources to help them implement the Charter effectively. For more information, visit The HUB for the Race Equality in Schools Partnership.
Schools can also book a free consultancy session to discuss how they can effectively implement the Charter. For more information or to discuss your free session, please email manager@educationequals.org.uk.
Schools that have signed up to the Charter
See the schools that have signed up so far
- Abbot Alphege Academy
- Bathford Church School
- Beechen Cliff School
- Cameley Primary
- Chandag Primary School
- Chew Magna Primary School
- Chew Stoke Church School
- Chew Valley School
- Clutton Primary School
- Combe Down Primary School
- Farmborough Church Primary School
- Farrington Gurney Primary School
- Fosse Way School
- Hayesfield Girls' School & Mixed Sixth
- Hemington Primary School
- High Littleton C of E Primary School
- Kingswood School
- Longvernal Primary School
- Marksbury C of E Primary School
- Midsomer Norton Schools' Partnership Trust of Schools
- Midsomer Norton Primary School
- Midsomer Norton Sixth Form
- Mulberry Park Educate Together
- Moorlands Schools Federation
- Newbridge Primary School
- Norton Hill School
- Norton Hill Primary School
- Paulton Infant School
- Paulton Junior School
- Peasedown St John Primary School
- Pensford Primary School
- Ralph Allen School
- Roundhill Primary School
- Saint Gregory's Catholic College
- Shoscombe Church School
- Somerset Studio School
- Somervale School
- St Andrew's Church School
- St John's Primary School
- St Julian's Church School
- St Keyna Primary
- St Mark's School
- St Mary's Catholic School
- St Mary’s C of E Primary School and Nursery
- St Michael’s Junior Church School
- St Philip's Primary School
- Threeways School
- Trinity Church School
- Wellsway School
- Welton Primary School
- Westfield Primary School
- Weston All Saints C of E Primary School
- Writhlington School
Progress update
View the update webinar for more details on the ongoing progress of this initiative
Race Equality Charter Beacon Schools
The aim of the Beacon School initiative as part of the B&NES Race Equality Charter programme is to recognise and share good practice in relation to race equality work in schools across Bath and North East Somerset.
Beacon Schools are those that have signed up to the Race Equality Charter and have demonstrated good practice in implementing the Charter Commitments in a particular area or across a range of areas.
Beacon Schools are encouraged to share their experience and work with other schools that have signed up to the Charter, to showcase and disseminate examples of good practice and support the implementation of the Race Equality Charter across Bath and North East Somerset schools.
Criteria for Beacon Schools
Beacon Schools are schools agreed by the B&NES Race Equality and Hate Crime Task Force Partnership to have demonstrated particularly good practice in relation to the Race Equality Charter in a specific area of commitment or across a range of areas.
Identifying potential Beacon schools will take place through using existing knowledge of school’s work; new recommendations by Task Force partners; and requests from schools themselves for Beacon status.
To become a Beacon School a school will:
- Complete a Race Equality Charter for Schools Audit
- Demonstrate particularly good practice in relation to one or more Race Equality Charter commitments
- Be willing to share their work, experience and knowledge with other Charter schools with a focus on improving race equality policy and practice
Role of Beacon Schools
Beacon Schools will be a source of inspiration and support for other schools across Bath and North East Somerset who have signed up to the Race Equality Charter.
They will work with other schools and with the Partnership to provide opportunities for sharing and disseminating good practice in relation to race equality work, for example by:
- Showcasing and presenting good practice
- Sharing and exchanging ideas, information, policies, materials and resources
- Supporting or mentoring school staff
- Providing training
- Participating in meetings and contribute to discussion of progress, issues or problems faced by schools in delivering race equality work
- Raising awareness and promoting Race Equality Charter work to key decision makers and networks
Beacon Schools have been recognised by the B&NES Race Equality and Hate Crime Task Force Partnership for their good practice in relation to race equality work. The Partnership will maintain a list of Beacon Schools and their areas of good practice on the Race Equality Charter website.
See the schools that have achieved Beacon Status so far
Norton Hill Primary School
Recognised as a a Beacon School for good practice specifically for its work on diversifying the school curriculum.
Beacon Schools can be contacted for support through the Partnership by emailing Dee Chaddha at Dee_Chaddha@bathnes.gov.uk.