Equality and Accessibility Objectives
E-ACT Parkwood Academy
Equality and Accessibility Objectives 2021 – 2024
Review Date: July 2024
E-ACT Parkwood Academy is committed to providing an environment which values and includes all student, staff, parents and visitors regardless of their educational, physical, sensory, social, spiritual, emotional and cultural needs. We are committed to challenging attitudes about disability and accessibility and to developing a culture of awareness, tolerance and inclusion.
E-ACT Parkwood Academy is also committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in line with the Equality Act 2010.
E-ACT Parkwood Academy seeks to reduce discrimination and harassment of any member of the Academy and will not discriminate on any of the protected characteristics save where such discrimination is permitted by law.
Protected Characteristics include:
- Religion or belief
- Race – colour, ethnicity or national origin
- Gender or gender identity
- Sex or sexuality
- Marital or civil partnership status
- Pregnancy or maternity
- Disability
- Age
Where it is practicable to make reasonable adjustments to enable a prospective student to take up a place at E-ACT Parkwood Academy and to satisfy the current admissions criteria, the Academy is committed to providing those reasonable adjustments. In order to do this, the Academy will ask for the student to disclose whether they have received any learning support, have had an educational psychologist report or have any disability or other condition of which the Academy should be aware. Where a potential Student has an Education Health Care Plan, the Academy will work with the Local Authority to ensure that the identified provision is delivered in an appropriate manner. The Academy will be sensitive to any issues of confidentiality.
E-ACT Parkwood Academy will not tolerate direct or in-direct discrimination, harassment or victimisation.
As an Academy we have an accessible site and building with the following:
- 2 lifts to allow student, staff, parents and visitors access to all 3 floors of the Academy
- Outside sports and grounds facilities that are fully accessible to all
- Accessible toilets in each teaching space and within the sports facilities
- Emergency evacuation system in place with the use of EVAC chairs
- Height adjustable furniture in all main areas of the academy
- Hearing loop system in the activity hall
- Non-visual guides on signage around the Academy
- Clearly marked disabled parking bays in both the main car park and the visitors car park
To increase the extent to which all disabled students can participate in the Academy curriculum, we have:
- Provided a number of ‘bases’ and ‘safe spaces’ to use for lessons, interventions and during social times
- Provided all staff with a bespoke ‘one-page-profile’ of students needs and disabilities
- Maintained detailed and bespoke access arrangements to allow students to access internal and external examinations and assessments without prejudice
- Ongoing collation of transition information in relation to students need and disability about prospective Y7 students and mid-term admissions prior to starting dates
We are committed to further improving the service and experience of students, staff, parents and visitors with Protected Characteristics through our Equality and Accessibility Objectives: