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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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