Race Equality Policy
The Adult College is working to ensure equality and the elimination of descrimination within its community, whilst promoting and valuing diversity.
This policy is an integral part of the college mission and key values. It should be read in conjunction with the college Equality and Diversity Policy and the references to relevant legislation contained within it, with reference to the college Harassment and Bullying Policy and in the context of Lancashire County Council Race Equality Scheme.
The college will support this policy through guidance, support and training for all employees
Key Principles
- The Adult College believes that discrimination on grounds of race, culture, religion or belief is unacceptable
- The College celebrates diversity throughout the college community
- The College believes that race equality and good relations between different racial groups are essential to the college environment
The College will ensure that all members of the college community are aware of their rights and responsibilities with respect to legislation and this policy.
The College will consult with representatives from all areas of the college community and from all locally represented racial groups in order to implement and review this policy
Scope
The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 has placed a general duty on public authorities, including the College, to promote race equality and in particular to:
- Eliminate unlawful racial discrimination
- Promote equality of opportunity
- Promote good relations between people of different racial groups
The Act has placed further specific duties on Further and Adult Education institutions to publish a Race Equality Scheme and an Action Plan for its implementation.
Discriminatory behaviour may be direct or indirect and includes harassment or bullying, segregation, isolation, exclusion, or inappropriate expectations.
The college operates within the wider framework determined by other relevant legislation which relate religion or belief discrimination to ethnicity, including
The Race Relations Act 1976
Accountability
Every member of the college community is responsible for ensuring that their own behaviour is consistent with this policy and for confronting or reporting discrimination, whether intentional or unintentional, whenever it occurs irrespective of whether a complaint is made. Every member of the college community is also responsible for encouraging good relations between people of different racial groups.
The college management team will:
- ensure that all staff will be trained to implement the college policy and action plan in relation to race equality
- ensure that good practice is observed in relation to teaching, learning and assessment; management and governance; admissions, access and participation; support and guidance; staff recruitment; training and career development
- ensure wide consultation with interested groups to formulate and review policy and related procedure
- set targets for the selection and recruitment of staff, and the recruitment, retention and achievement of students consistent with the ethnic profile of the area
The Equal and Diversity Steering Group, in consultation with representatives from the college and different racial groups within the wider community, will:
- monitor the effective implementation of this policy
- annually review and update policy and action plan
- monitor and publicise progress against actions outlined in the Lancashire County Council Race Equality Scheme and Adult College Equality and Diversity Action Plan
- monitor and publicise the achievement of targets
Updated June 2005
