Our Duty

St Edward’s Academy aims to meet its obligations under the public sector equality duty by having due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act 2010;
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it;
• Foster good relations across all characteristics – between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

Legislative requirements, under the Equality Act 2010, dictate that all schools have a duty to have regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, to advance equality of opportunity between different groups and to foster good relations between those groups. This is an important aspect of what we hope to achieve at St Edward’s Academy as 21st Century educators.

There are a range of duties incumbent upon us to ensure we take positive action to establish environments where all students are supported to engage fully. These duties, dictated by the DfE, encourage schools to promote a range of whole-school approaches and activities to develop respectful school communities and to support mental health and well-being. St Edward’s Academy aims to set an example as a Church of England secondary school to ensure equality of opportunity for all our children and young people. The Church of England’s vision for education is at the heart of what we must do at St Edward’s.

Our vision for education is deeply Christian, with Jesus’ promise of ‘Life in all its fullness’ at its heart. In line with Church of England teaching, our vision is for the common good of the
whole community:

• Educating for wisdom, knowledge and skills: enabling discipline, confidence and delight in seeking wisdom and knowledge, and developing talents in all areas of life.
• Educating for hope and aspiration: enabling healing, repair and renewal, coping wisely when things go wrong, opening horizons and guiding people into ways of fulfilling them.
• Educating for community and living well together: a core focus on relationships, participation in communities and the qualities of character that enable people to flourish together.
• Educating for dignity and respect: the basic principle of respect for the value and preciousness of each person, treating each person as a unique individual of inherent worth.