Equality Policy
The Japanese School

Approved by:

The School Management Committee

Last reviewed on:

December 2023

Next review due by:

December 2024

Equality Policy 20312 v1.8

Date: 7 December 2023

1

Version Number

Modified By

Modifications Made

Date Modified

1.0

K. Nishihara

Update based on change of the equality
link governor

10/12/2020

1.1

K. Nishihara

Update Clause 807/05/2021

1.2

K. Nishihara

Change of equality link governor

09/12/2021

1.3

K. Okamoto

Targets updated

27’04/2022

1.4

K. Okamoto

Overall Review and update

04/05/2022

1.5

K. Okamoto

Change of equality link governor

08/12/2022

1.6

M. Furui

Change of equality link governor

01/03/2023

1.7

K. Okamoto

Change of equality link governor

01/06/2023

1.8

K. Okamoto

Change of equality link governor

07/12/2023

Equality Policy 202312 v1.8

2

1. Aims
Our school 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 are prohibited by the Equality Act 2010

•Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic andpeople who do not share it•

Foster good relations across all characteristics between people who share a protectedcharacteristic and people who do not share it

2. Legislation and guidanceThis document meets the requirements under the following legislation:•The Equality Act 2010, which introduced the public sector equality duty and protects people
from discrimination•

The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011, which require schools to publish
information to demonstrate how they are complying with the public sector equality duty andto publish equality objectives

This document is also based on Department for Education (DfE) guidance: The Equality Act 2010and schools.
This document also complies with our funding agreement and articles of association.

3. Roles and responsibilities
The School Management Committee will:•Ensure that the equality information and objectives as set out in this statement arepublished and communicated throughout the school, including to staff, pupils and parents,
and that they are reviewed and updated at least once every four years•

Delegate responsibility for monitoring the achievement of the objectives on a daily basis tothe headteacher

The equality link member of the School Management Committee is Mr. Shigeki Okada. They will:• Meet with the designated member of staff for equality every two months and other relevant
staff members, to discuss any issues and how these are being addressed• Ensure they’re familiar with all relevant legislation and the contents of this document• Attend appropriate equality and diversity training• Report back to the full the School Management Committee regarding any issues

The headteacher will:• Promote knowledge and understanding of the equality objectives amongst staff and pupils• Monitor success in achieving the objectives and report back to the members of the School
Management Committee.
The designated member of staff for equality will:• Support the headteacher in promoting knowledge and understanding of the equality
objectives amongst staff and pupils• Support the headteacher in identifying any staff training needs, and deliver training asnecessary
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All school staff are expected to have regard to this document and to work to achieve the objectives
as set out in section 8.

4. Eliminating discrimination
The school is aware of its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and complies with nondiscrimination provisions.
Where relevant, our policies include reference to the importance of avoiding discrimination andother prohibited conduct.
Staff and governors are regularly reminded of their responsibilities under the Equality Act, forexample during meetings. Where this has been discussed during a meeting it is recorded in themeeting minutes.
New staff receive training on the Equality Act as part of their induction, and all staff receive
refresher training every April when the new academic year starts.
The school has a designated member of staff for monitoring equality issues, and an equality link
governor. They regularly liaise regarding any issues and make senior leaders and governors
aware of these as appropriate.

5. Advancing equality of opportunity
As set out in the DfE guidance on the Equality Act, the school aims to advance equality ofopportunity by:• Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people which are connected to aparticular characteristic they have (e.g. pupils with disabilities, or gay pupils who are being
subjected to homophobic bullying)• Taking steps to meet the particular needs of people who have a particular characteristic (e.g.
enabling Muslim pupils to pray at prescribed times)• Encouraging people who have a particular characteristic to participate fully in any activities(e.g. encouraging all pupils to be involved in the full range of school extra-curriculumactivities)
In fulfilling this aspect of the duty, the school will:• Analyse the above data to determine strengths and areas for improvement, implement
actions in response and publish this information• Make evidence available identifying improvements for specific groups (e.g. declines inincidents of homophobic or transphobic bullying)• Publish further data about any issues associated with particular protected characteristics,
identifying any issues which could affect our own pupils

6. Fostering good relations
The school aims to foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic andthose who do not share it by:• Promoting tolerance, friendship and understanding of a range of religions and cultures
through different aspects of our curriculum. This includes teaching in moral education
authorised by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology of Japan(MEXT) and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, spiritual, moral, socialand cultural (SMSC) development, but also activities in other curriculum areas. For example,
as part of teaching and learning in English/reading, pupils will be introduced to literature froma range of cultures• Holding assemblies dealing with relevant issues. Pupils will be encouraged to take a lead insuch assemblies, and we will also invite external speakers to contribute.
Equality Policy 202312 v1.84

• Encouraging and implementing initiatives to deal with tensions between different groups ofpupils within the school. For example, our school council has representatives from different
year groups and is formed of pupils from a range of backgrounds. Pupils are encouraged toparticipate in the school’s activities, such as sports clubs.

7. Equality considerations in decision-making
The school ensures it has due regard to equality considerations whenever significant decisions aremade.
The school always considers the impact of significant decisions on particular groups. For example,
when a school trip or activity is being planned, the school considers whether the trip:• Cuts across any religious holidays• Is accessible to pupils with disabilities• Has equivalent facilities for boys and girls
The school keeps a written record (known as an Equality Impact Assessment) to show we haveactively considered our equality duties and asked ourselves relevant questions. This is recorded atthe same time as the risk assessment when planning school trips and activities. The record iscompleted by the member of staff organising the activity and is stored with the completed riskassessment.

8. Equality objectives
Objective 1: Access - Pupils (including SEN) with protected characteristics will not be
discriminated against in relation to access to the school’s benefits, facilities or services.
Why we have chosen this objective: To ensure this policy is implemented
To achieve this objective, we plan to: Train staff in awareness of Equality Act 2010Progress we are making towards this objective: Initial stage, review March 2023
Objective 2: Transition - Continuity of education is anticipated normally throughout each year
group unless in the professional judgement of the Headteacher after due deliberation the pupil will
not benefit from continuing to be educated at the school.
Why we have chosen this objective: Ensure any barrier removed to learning and there is smoothtransition from one-class to next or next phase
To achieve this objective, we plan to: Support all pupils according to their needs
Progress we are making towards this objective: Review March 2023
Objective 3: Religious observance - The School will seek to make appropriate arrangements toreflect the requirements of different religious faiths regarding acceptable variations to clothes,catering arrangements and authorised absence for religious festivals falling during term time.
These may include reasonable arrangements to allow for specific acts of religious observance inschool.
Why we have chosen this objective: To ensure all pupils have equal opportunity to observe theirreligion or no religion according to their requirements.
To achieve this objective, we plan to: Implement as above
Progress we are making towards this objective: Review March 2023
Objective 4: Disability and access for people with disabilities - The School will makereasonable adjustments to address the individual needs of all pupils and prospective pupils withdisabilities.
Equality Policy 202312 v1.85

Why we have chosen this objective: To ensure all pupils have equal opportunity to have access tothe school building.
To achieve this objective, we plan to: Install ramp at entry points
Progress we are making towards this objective: Review March 2023

9. Monitoring arrangements
This document will be reviewed by the Chairman of the School Management Committee/headteacher at least every 3 years.
This document will be approved by the Chairman of the School Management Committee/headteacher.

10. Links with other policies
This document links to the following policies:•Accessibility plan•

Risk assessment

Equality Policy 202312 v1.86