The Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership (“the Trust”) is committed to supporting each person to live in the freedom God desires for us. We strive to foster a vision of what it means to flourish as a human being, living in relationship with a loving God, growing closer to him throughout life’s journey. We are immensely proud of all the young people in our schools for all they achieve and of our school leaders, staff, and governors. Together we share the responsibility for forming our young people so that they can not only live and work in the world, but also bring Christ’s compassion, forgiveness, healing, and love to our society. Our belief as a catholic community of schools is that following Christ requires us to love and respect every single human being as a fellow child of God irrespective of their individual personal characteristics.

The Trust is strongly committed to equality, inclusion and diversity in all aspects of the Trust’s work. As a Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, we value the different contributions and experiences of all who make up our community.

The Trust aims to be an employer of choice, known for recruiting and developing school leaders, teachers and support staff that reflects the diversity of the local population. The Trust also seeks to equip our children and young people with the knowledge and skills they need to ensure that they fulfil their potential, whatever their background or need.

Trust Equality Objectives for 2023 to 2024

Our main aim, as set out in the Trust’s Strategic Plan for 2023 - 2024, is that our Trust recognises diversity and enables equality of opportunity in all aspects of our Trust. This means that:

• For all those in our Trust community, there will be a culture that enables anyone to be confident to disclose harassment or bullying in the secure knowledge that issues will be addressed promptly and effectively;
• Personal, Social and Emotional education across our schools will link together to enable a holistic understanding for all, with clear links to PSHE, RE, RSE, safety and development;
• Research based strategies are adapted and embedded as appropriate, so all our pupils are enabled to flourish academically, physically, and emotionally;
• Our schools will be recognised for their excellent inclusive practice for our children and young people with SEND;
• Strategies and plans always include recognition of those with additional needs;
• Schools will work together as part of the partnership to offer mutual support, to act as critical friends, to explore research-based evidence and to develop excellent practice in the provision for our pupils with AEN/SEND;
• Strategic leadership across schools, groups of schools and hubs will enable current and aspiring leaders, from diverse backgrounds, to gain further professional development and the ability to share their skills widely across the Trust;
• Talent spotting of future leaders and development programmes will be in place, accessed and evaluated for impact.

We also seek to address inequalities in the following key areas:

• To narrow the attainment gap between boys and girls in English, Mathematics and Science at all key stages;
• To narrow the gap in performance of all pupils with special educational needs or disabilities;
• To narrow the gap in performance between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged groups;
• To promote cultural development and understanding through a rich range of experiences both in and beyond the curriculum; and:
• To prevent and respond to all hate incidents and prejudice-based bullying;
• To increase the representation of black, asian and minority ethnic staff at all levels, including in leadership and management and teaching roles, from a current level of 2% to better reflect their pupil and wider communities. There are currently 9% BAME pupils when looking across the Trust and a Kent population that is 6% BAME;
• Work towards improving the availability of Trust-wide staff equality data, including improving staff disclosure rates across the relevant protected characteristics.

In addition to the above, each school has their own equality objectives which will focus on their own unique communities.