Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Achieving excellence Portland College Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Achieving excellence

What Ofsted said – February 2008 Outstanding promotion of equality, diversity & inclusion There is an outstanding and highly innovative approach to promoting equality of opportunity in the curriculum The EDI Committee is particularly effective in planning and delivering a rolling programme of E&D training that is highly valued by the staff who recognise the need for regular updating

Our Approach Everything you would expect and a little bit more…. A clear policy Clearly defined responsibilities A challenging annual action plan An EDI Committee made up of energetic volunteers representing the whole college community

There is no single, magic solution! Developed and evolved over a number of years Core to our organisational values Valuing individuals and striving for fairness is our passion Enjoying the discussions, activities, projects, meetings, planning, events, training and seeing the results

EDI – An integrated strategy Whole organisation approach Sharing and celebrating good practice and achievement For example: Annual ONE DAY celebration EDI Awards given out at ONE DAY Information gathering, participation and consultation The Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee (EDI) Regular Impact Assessments to ensure policy consistency

EDI – An integrated strategy continued Mandatory staff training initiatives – annual, updated and themed Positive Action initiatives - For example: EDI Local Directory Action planning and ongoing review Formal and regular monitoring across college Curriculum development Monitoring EDI awareness in teaching delivery Widening Participation and actively promoting and encouraging social and educational inclusion through independence

Introducing EDI Owl EDI Owl is the recognised symbol in our college for anything relating to EDI – Students, Governors, Staff and Volunteers all recognise the symbol and know they can ask for advice, guidance and support

Our EDI Policy We use a single college policy that is signed off at Board Level The Policy incorporates Part One of the Single Equality Scheme The Policy is explicitly anti-discriminatory Everyone can be involved in the Single Equality Scheme

Involvement in the Single Equality Scheme Forms of involvement: communication, consultation, showing awareness of the needs of others, impact assessment, decision making, taking positive action, monitoring and review  Consistent with the Portland Code of Conduct Informs new policy development such as sex and relationships

EDI Action Plan: Single Equality Scheme part two The key EDI themes we strive towards are: Commitment, Communication & Awareness Teaching, Training, Support & Guidance Environment & Access Monitoring & Target Setting Inclusion, Involvement & Community Cohesion

What we do best Challenge barriers and boundaries and encourage our students to get involved and be heard Examples include: The design of our new local transport hub Providing staff development for other organisations on living with a disability Undertaking access surveys Working with the public sector Challenging the providers of goods and services e.g., Stagecoach

The challenges ahead… Truly understanding and achieving embeddedness Maintaining energy in an ongoing process of improvement and review Widening participation of certain black minority ethnic groups Improving on what we have already done