The Macclesfield Academy

The Macclesfield Academy

Motto	Being The Best We Can Be; Making Our Best Better.
Established	1 September 2011
Type	Academy
Religion	All
Headteacher	Richard Hedge
Location	Park Lane Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8JR England
Local authority	Cheshire East
DfE URN	111465 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Staff	50 teachers and 30 support staff.
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11–16
Houses	Silk, Mulberry & Hovis
Colours	Macclesfield Blue
Website	macclesfieldacademy.org

Macclesfield Academy is an Academy situated in Macclesfield, Cheshire.

The Academy opened on 1 September 2011 following the decision of Cheshire East Council to close Macclesfield High School which had previously operated on the same site. It is built on the Macclesfield Learning Zone campus, sharing it with Macclesfield College, Park Lane Special School and various other facilities. Sponsored by Macclesfield College, the Academy is an independent school, funded by a funding agreement with the Department for Education. The Academy has approximately 50 teachers and 30 support staff who together serve a population of about 800 students.

In 2015 the results attained by our students outperformed those attained nationally on almost every single measure, while the progress they made from their starting points was the fastest in the whole of Cheshire East and among the best in the country. Two years ago, Ofsted commented on the rapid progress our students make and it is even faster now! Please look at our exam results, our Ofsted report and the school performance tables. However, please also remember they are only part of the story. Please also come and see our staff and students at work and see the powerful attitude to learning that underpins the progress our students make every day. Every day is an open day at the Academy so please feel free to make an appointment to come and see us on any day in the school year.

- See more at: http://www.macclesfieldacademy.org/join-us/ofsted-performance-tables-exam-results/#sthash.l2Ftugty.dpuf

Equality scheme

Equality Objectives

The Governing Board of The Macclesfield Academy agreed these objectives on 27 March 2012. These objectives will be reviewed before the end of the Easter term 2017.

Governors are keen to take into account the views of all students, parents, visitors and staff to the Academy in undertaking this review.

In relation to Achievement:

   We will improve the performance of boys, students with Special Educational Needs and those entitled to Free School Meals so that the gap between their attainment and that of other students is substantially narrowed.

In relation to Teaching and Learning:

   We will ensure that our curriculum (including our programme of enrichment and extracurricular activities) actively promotes understanding between different groups of people.
   We will ensure that students from Park Lane School are effectively integrated into the life and work of the Academy.

In relation to Behaviour and Safety:

   We will maintain a rigorous anti-bullying stance so that all students and staff, including those in groups protected by the Equalities Act, are protected from harassment and discrimination of all kinds.

In relation to Leadership and Management:

   We will ensure that our systems for recruiting staff actively encourage applications from colleagues in all those groups protected by the Equalities Act.
   We will continue to undertake equality assessments of all new and existing policies and procedures.
   We will review all aspects of our accessibility arrangements.

Single Equality Scheme

The Governing Board of the Macclesfield Academy agreed this Single Equality Scheme (SES) on 27 March 2012. It will be reviewed before the end of the Easter term 2017. Governors are keen to take into account the views of all students, parents, visitors and staff to the Academy in undertaking this review.

Introduction

The Academy forms part of the Macclesfield Learning Zone with Macclesfield College and Park Lane School. The Learning Zone welcomes people of all ages and aims to serve the whole community. The Academy has committed to securing accreditation from UNICEF as a Rights Respecting School. The words equality and diversity are widely used but not as widely understood. Equality means ensuring that everyone is able to participate in the Academy’s activities as a student, a member of staff, governor or visitor, as appropriate, on an equal footing with their fellows, and to achieve the best possible outcomes as a result of their participation. Diversity acknowledges that there are differences between people, which should be recognised, respected and celebrated. The Macclesfield Academy is proud of the diversity within its community and is committed to fostering an environment of mutual respect and dignity.

Legislative Context

The Equality Act 2010 forms the basis of equality law in England. It seeks to consolidate and streamline anti-discrimination legislation and to strengthen the law to support progress on equality. It replaces the previous legislation, which dealt separately with the protected characteristics. Although there is no requirement under the Equality Act 2010 to produce a SES, The Macclesfield Academy has chosen to develop and publish this SES as a public declaration of how the Academy will meet the duties placed on it by the Act and to demonstrate good practice in equality and diversity.

The protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 are:

   Age
   Disability
   Gender reassignment
   Marriage and civil partnership
   Pregnancy and maternity
   Race
   Religion or belief (including lack of belief)
   Sex
   Sexual orientation

The Act places on The Academy a General Equality Duty to:

   Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
   Advance equality of opportunity between people who share one or more protected characteristics and those who do not.
   Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

In addition, the Act places on the Academy Specific Duties to:

   Publish information (primarily on its website) to demonstrate how the Academy is complying with the General Equality Duty
   Prepare and publish equality objectives.

Statement of Values

This Single Equality Scheme is underpinned by the following values, principles and standards:

   Equality and social justice.
   Acknowledging and respecting diversity.
   Respect for others.
   Elimination of all forms of prejudice and unfair discrimination.
   Active challenge to stereotypes, prejudiced attitudes and unfair discriminatory behaviour.
   Commitment to inclusive education which enables and supports all students to develop their full potential.
   Commitment to the positive development of all staff and governors.
   Accountability for compliance with this SES by all members of the Academy community and others engaged in Academy business or activities.

Aims:

   To enable people from the groups protected by the Act and other socially disadvantaged groups (such as Looked After Children and those entitled to Free School Meals) to experience the best possible outcomes as a result of their contact with the Academy.
   To remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by people owing to their protected characteristics including the elimination of discrimination, harassment and bullying.
   To meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people.
   To encourage people from protected groups to participate in Academy and public life.
   To tackle prejudice and stereotyping.
   To promote understanding between different groups of people through curricular and extra-curricular activities.

The Academy understands and acknowledges that meeting these aims may mean treating some people more favourably than others because of their protected characteristic(s) in order to advance equality.

Responsibilities for Implementation

The Governing Board is responsible for making sure that the Academy meets its legal responsibilities with respect to equality and diversity legislation and so develops and implements this SES.

The Headteacher and Director of Behaviour and Safety are responsible for:

   Giving a consistent and high profile lead on equality and diversity, promoting equality of opportunity inside and outside of the Academy.
   Ensuring the SES is in place and that the Academy implements the Scheme and its associated action plan.
   Reporting annually in the Autumn term to the Governing Board on the Academy’s progress in advancing equality including by analysis of outcomes for students in the protected groups.

Academy managers are responsible for:

   Putting the Academy SES into practice.
   Making sure that all staff know their responsibilities and receive the support and training necessary to carry them out promoting equality and diversity.
   Following the relevant procedures and taking action in cases of unfair discrimination or harassment.

All staff are responsible for:

   Promoting equality and avoiding unfair discrimination.
   Challenging any incidents of stereotyping or unfair discrimination perpetrated by students or other staff.
   Keeping up-to-date with equality law and participating in equality and diversity training.

Students are responsible for:

   Respecting others in their language and actions.
   Challenging any incidents of stereotyping or unfair discrimination perpetrated by other students or staff.
   Obeying all of the Academy’s equality and diversity policies and procedures, including the SES.

Equality Objectives

To implement this Scheme and to meet its specific responsibility under the Act, the Academy will publish annually equality objectives to be achieved over the next three years. These objectives will be derived from analysis of a number of sources including:

   The Rights Respecting School steering group
   The involvement of disabled people
   Consultation with staff and students
   Feedback from students, carers, parents and staff with disabilities
   Student and parent satisfaction surveys
   Feedback from external agencies and partners
   Teaching and learning observations
   Analysis of student and staff recruitment and retention
   Analysis of student performance

When the equality objectives have been determined the Equality and Diversity Committee will draw up an annual action plan for their implementation. This action plan will include clear targets and timescales for the achievement of the objectives set.

Monitoring

The monitoring of progress towards achievement of these objectives will be incorporated into all four strands of the Academy’s Quality Assurance Framework.

   In relation to achievement, the Director of each Key Stage will monitor the progress of students in each of the groups protected by the Act and other socially disadvantaged groups (such as Looked After Children and those entitled to Free School Meals) as part of the process of half termly data collection. The Headteacher will include an analysis of the achievement of students in these groups when reporting to the Governing Board in the Autumn Term.
   In relation to teaching and learning, the lesson observations undertaken as part of learning walks and subject reviews will identify any groups who are disadvantaged in any way in relation to their access to, or success in, learning.
   Lesson observation will also identify the extent to which teaching is, where appropriate, Subject Leaders and Line Managers are responsible for addressing any issues identified through this process. Participation in the Academy’s enrichment programme by students in the groups protected by the Act and other disadvantaged groups will be monitored and, where relevant, specific questions will be incorporated into student and parent satisfaction surveys.
   In relation to behaviour and safety, data on attendance and behaviour (including the application of sanctions) of students in each of the groups protected by the Act and other socially disadvantaged groups will be analysed termly by the Attendance Manager and the Director of Behaviour Management Systems.
   Records of bullying incidents will be monitored by the Director of Behaviour Management Systems. to ensure that students in each of the groups protected by the Act and other socially disadvantaged groups are kept safe from harassment and bullying.
   In relation to leadership and management, the annual self assessment process will include assessment of:
   The extent to which the curriculum (including the enrichment programme) meets the needs of students in each of the groups protected by the Act and other socially disadvantaged groups and promotes understanding between different groups of people
   The extent to which staff recruitment, development, performance management and terms and conditions ensure equality of opportunity for staff in each of the protected groups
   The extent to which recruitment of and support for governors ensures equality of opportunity for governors in each of the protected groups
   The extent to which the arrangements made for parents and visitors ensure equality of opportunity for those in each of the protected groups
   The extent to which Academy policies and procedures have been assessed have been analysed to assess their impact on equality and the effectiveness of this analysis in ensuring that no student, member of staff, parent, governor or visitor belonging to any of the protected groups is disadvantaged by the application of the policies and procedures concerned.
   The extent to which any complaints relating to issues of equality and diversity made by parents or students under the complaints procedure or by staff under the grievance procedure have been reviewed and appropriate action taken as a result.

- See more at: http://www.macclesfieldacademy.org/about/equality-scheme/#sthash.5eR7DGci.dpuf