Equality of Access and Participation
Equality of Access and Participation Policy
The Aims of our Policy are:
· To ensure that all pupils in our school are valued and respected.
· To enable all our pupils to enjoy equal opportunity.
· To prepare our pupils for a multicultural society.
· To ensure that each pupil reaches his/her potential.
· To ensure that our school complies with legislation on Equality.
All partners in St. Columba’s N.S. are committed to the concept of equality of opportunity for all our pupils. We recognize the vital role that our school can play in the development and fostering of the concept of equality in every aspect of school life.
We also realize that any school committed to the concept of equality will have a decisive impact on pupils as they make career decisions, avail of job opportunities and as they contribute to family life and society in general.
The school community accepts and endorses the following as essential features of the Equal Status Act 2023.
1. The Act prohibits discrimination on grounds of race, gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, age, religious beliefs, membership of the travelling community, disability, socio-economic status.
2. Discrimination happens when a person is/was/would be treated less favourably than another person on any of the nine grounds outlined above.
3. Discrimination can happen directly or indirectly by association.
We undertake not to discriminate in relation to:
· The admission to our school.
· The access to any course, facility or benefit.
· Any other term or condition of participation.
· The imposition of sanctions or the expulsion of any pupils.
Enrolment
Our enrolment policy treats all applicants equally and does not discriminate in any way on any of the grounds outlined above.
Non-National children
We welcome children from other cultures to St. Columba’s and we believe that they can enrich our school environment in many ways. We will make every effort to ensure that these pupils participate fully in every aspect of school life.
Children whose first language is not English and the school believes need further support are provided with specific language teaching assistance with our SET team following enrolment.
Code of Discipline
Our Code of Discipline and Anti-Bullying policies are based on mutual respect for all pupils in every aspect of school life. Every child regardless of race, background or religion, who comes to St. Columba’s, will be treated with the utmost respect and courtesy by every member of our school community.
Religion
Parents are made aware of the school ethos through the enrolment policy and on enrolment. St. Columba’s is a school under Catholic management. No child will be discriminated against on the basis of religion. Non Catholic pupils may be present for the religion classes but need not actively participate.
Curriculum
All pupils participate in every aspect of the school programme with a number of exceptions.
· Pupils who are exempted from Irish.
· Children who are not of the Catholic Faith.
· Children whose parents do not wish them to be involved in the RSE programme.
· Pupils who are unable to participate in a curricular area e.g. P.E. due to a documented disability.
School Organisation
The Staff of St. Columba’s promotes the concept of equality between girls and boys in all arrangements relating to:
· The organisation of classes, including seating arrangements.
· Access to the school curriculum, including P.E.
· The organisation of school chores.
· The imposition of sanction.
· Access to extra-curricular activities, including sporting activity.
· Satisfactory standards of behaviour.
· Classroom management strategies.
School attendance
The school recognises that regular school attendance is critical in ensuring that all pupils reach their potential. Good school attendance is regularly commended by the class teacher and the school principal with a view to encouraging good attendance. Parents are regularly reminded of their obligation in this regard. The Education Welfare Act is complied with in relation to pupils whose non-attendance exceeds 20 days.
Home School Links
We recognise and value the primary role of parents in the education of our pupils. To this end regular communication with parents is facilitated in several ways. Parent-Teacher meetings take place at an individual level, with a view to providing all families with information and support. Parents are welcome to come to the school at any time by appointment, to discuss pupil progress. Regular communication is facilitated through the school newsletter, Aladdin, Seesaw, email, text and the school website. The staff appreciate the role played by parents in the provision of resources which are vital to the functioning of well resourced classrooms.
Special Needs
The BOM is willing to do all that is reasonable to accommodate special needs pupils in providing essential treatment or facilities. If the Department of Education is willing to provide grants or special assistance, the BOM will make application for such grants.
New Pupils
New pupils and their parents are welcome to visit the school prior to enrolment. The new Junior Infant classes visit the school before the summer holidays in order to become familiar with our school setting.
Positive Action in the promotion of equality of opportunity
The Equal Status Act allows for preferential treatment or the taking of positive measures which are intended to:
· Promote equality of opportunity for disadvantaged persons.
· Provide a particular arrangement or service which is essential for a person with special needs.
Where appropriate, the school will promote measures which will facilitate positive action.
The Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 preclude discrimination on gender grounds in the employment of staff. Nothing will appear in advertisements or the conduct of interviews which will discriminate on gender grounds.
St. Columba’s N.S. is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Ratified by the Board of Management : September 2023