Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

The College seeks to ensure through our functions, policies and employment practises that we do not discriminate on any grounds and that the College acts in accordance with its statutory obligations under the equality duties.
The College is committed to achieving an educational environment and vocational training environment which actively promotes equality of opportunity and freedom from discrimination on grounds of age, class, course, subject or training area, cultural or ethnic origin, disability, gender, marital status, nationality, religion, belief and sexual orientation in every aspect of College life and associated training activities.
The College will seek to treat all those for whom it has responsibility, with respect and dignity and seek to provide a positive working and learning environment, free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation. The College will respect and seek to fully utilise and develop the diverse skills, talents and experiences of all its staff and students. The belief in equality, diversity and inclusion underpins and impacts on all areas of activity and influences how the College works.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OVERARCHING COLLEGE OBJECTIVE

The College will have due regard to (i) Eliminating unlawful discrimination; (ii) Advancing equality of opportunity between people who share protected characteristics and those who do not share it; (iii) Fostering good relations between people who share protected characteristics and those who do not.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION DOCUMENTS

EDI Report

EDI Strategic Plan

THE MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COLLEGE GROUP

The responsibilities of this committee include:

implementing, monitoring and reviewing the College Single Equality Scheme and EDI Action Plan
recommending changes to College EDI related policies and procedures
monitoring and reviewing publicity and marketing materials
receiving staffing statistics for analysis and monitoring purposes
receiving student statistics for analysis and monitoring purposes

Membership

EDI Manager (Member of the Senior Leadership Team)/Minuting Secretary/Link Governor/Representatives from:- College Curriculum Areas; Henley Training Company; Student Executive; Upgrade; Senior Management; Personnel; Trade Unions.

Frequency of meetings: Once a term (additional meetings as required)

INVESTORS IN DIVERSITY (IID)

Investors in Diversity (IiD) is a standard endorsed by the National Centre for Diversity (NCFD) which helps organisations to create, develop and embed a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. The NCFD is an independent organisation whose role is to encourage and enable organisations to adopt and develop effective behaviours and practices. In April 2011 the College achieved the Investors in Diversity standard at Stage 1. The College is now working towards the Stage 2 standard.

THE CURRICULUM

Schemes of Work and Lesson Plans include opportunities for celebrating Equality and Diversity. The College monitors the performance of different groups of learners carefully. Each curriculum area analyses performance across gender and ethnic groups with recommended improvement measures. There is an outstanding enrichment programme for all students and there are no barriers to participation.

ADMISSIONS AND MARKETING

Through targeted marketing the ethnic balance of students has changed significantly over the last five academic years. Links have been formed with a diverse range of partners. The College is committed to recruiting students with a broad range of prior attainment. The Bridge and FEDEX courses at Level 1 are exceptionally successful in progressing students on through their education; a number of the students have progressed on to Level 2 and then to Level 3 courses while others have been supported into employment. NEETS students have been identified and given a vocational programme by Henley Training Company which caters for their individual needs.

STAFF

Staffing changes and targeted advertising have led to a greater ethnic diversity in teaching staff.

GIFTED AND TALENTED

There is a coordinator for the Gifted and Talented students and activities have been promoted to extend learning opportunities. There is also an Oxbridge coordinator who identifies potential among first year students and encourages participation in challenging learning opportunities. There are many curriculum trips which offer additional learning opportunities, including Morocco for Geography, Athens and Naples for Classics and Ancient History, New York and Iceland for Travel and Tourism, Los Angeles for Film Studies and Florence for IB students among countless others. Gifted students are also given one-to-one tutorials by the three members of the Principalship and mock interviews for Oxbridge and medical/veterinary schools. This demonstrates the high commitment from the senior leadership team to stretching the most able students.

Talented students are identified at the applications and enrolment stage and through a physical activity questionnaire early in the first term. Outstanding sporting students are offered the sports development programme which provides high level training as well as coaching awards. This is an outstanding provision and opportunity in the sports of rowing, basketball, hockey, football and rugby and many students perform at county and national level. Students compete at national level in karate, dance, karting, cycling, sailing, lacrosse, motorcycle trials, rugby, athletics, golf, dressage, tennis, swimming, netball, rowing, Tai-Kwan-Do, horse riding , boxing, heptathlon and ice hockey. For a group of students across all sports there is performance-enhancing mental skills training by a qualified performance coach to raise the level of their performance.

STUDENT SUPPORT (UPGRADE)

Care, guidance and support for all students are outstanding; all students are given an initial assessment in order to identify at an early stage any support needs. Support is therefore prompt and matches student’s individual needs. Tutors are given recommended differentiations for each identified student which they are asked to use in their teaching methods. The provision of additional support is outstanding in that it covers wide range of emotional, psychological and other learning needs.

SOCIAL INCLUSION

A Social Enterprise Unit in Henley Youth centre, the Hot Frog Cafe, has been set up with the cooperation and support of the Town Council and The Management Trust to create simulated work opportunities for students with severe and multiple learning difficulties in the Pathways Unit. The facility has been extensively refurbished and is open to the Community 5 days/week.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING AND EVENTS:-

January 2010: Equality & Diversity Staff Training with Right Track Consultancy Ltd
July 2010: Equality & Diversity Staff Training with a Consultancy and Specialist Training Advisor for the Royal National College for the Blind.
May 2011. Governors training session on a general guide to EDI in relation to Governor responsibilities
February 2012. ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ live music event.

The Henley College Single Equality Scheme 2011-2012 pdf