2016 – 2020 Equality Objectives

In drawing up these objectives we have referred to the work that has been carried out to date within the College and have been mindful of the overriding purpose of the

general duty. We have extended our consideration to the eight protected characteristics covered by all three of the aims of the general duty and the requirement to

eliminate discrimination, harassment and other actions prohibited in the Equality Act 2010 in respect of civil partnerships and marriage. The plan will include all the

protected characteristics (people who share a protected characteristic) which are:

Age

Disability

Gender reassignment

Pregnancy/maternity

Race including ethnic or national origin, colour and nationality

Sex

Religion or belief

Sexual orientation

The College is aware of the need to consult and seek the views of our staff, students and stakeholders and is aware that further work in this area needs to take place. The

college considers consultation and involvement as fundamental to the success of the plan and has in place a strategy to this end. Senior staff, students, actions taken from

self-assessment, analysis of student data and the work of the Equality Steering Group and Senior Leadership Team have been used to determine and shape the strategic

objectives.

The key areas that have been identified as being the most significant are:

1. Curriculum, academic achievement and standards

2. Student services and support

3. Physical environment, health and safety and estates

4. Procurement

5. Staff training and awareness

6. Human Resources, employment and staff wellbeing

Meeting the duties in respect of each characteristic

The implementation plans below indicate how the college is meeting the duties in respect of each protected characteristic. The college recognises that we have experience

in respect of disability, sex, religion and belief and race and are aware that consideration of the protected characteristics of transgender, sexual orientation and pregnancy

and maternity are a key area for development. Collection of data for all protected characteristics will assist us to prioritise and develop meaningful objectives in the future.

1. Curriculum, academic achievement and standards

(PC – Protected characteristic)

Strategic Objective Action Performance

Measurement

Responsibility for

Implementation

Responsibility

for monitoring

Timescale

By

PC

1. Improve access to courses, regardless of the protected characteristics into our data collection and make sure that we take the needs and views of all protected groups into account when we design and deliver the curriculum

1.1 Introduce all protected characteristics into our data collection which will include application, enrolment etc. determining the most appropriate means of collection

1.2 Use the data to identify key issues and barriers for particular groups e.g. underrepresentation, on a course by course basis (course review process)

1.3 Use the outcomes in the college planning process to address any underrepresentation – equality considerations are part of the curriculum –design process

1.4 Use the data to determine whether there is any underachievement for any of the protected groups on a course by course basis (course review process)

All data collection

included all

protected

characteristics

All subject/courses

data to include this

information

Data for college

planning to be

provided on a timely

basis

All course reviews to

contain relevant

data

MB

MB/AL

MB

MB/AL

SLT

SLT

SLT

SLT

AL

JS/AL

Sept 30th

2019

September

30th 2019

September

30th 2019

September

30th 2019

All

All

All

All

1.5 Set specific objectives for subject/programme areas

1.6 Ensure that relevant outcomes from all elements of the new learner voice strategy are taken into account in the planning process

1.7 Review the course content to ensure that it takes into account the protected characteristics thereby promoting and advancing equality and challenging any issues

1.8 Focus staff development and training on raising awareness and sharing best practice in curriculum design and assessment

1.9 Target promotional activity with partner

schools to challenge stereotyping in subject and

career choices

Targets set at

subject/course level

Summary of

outcomes available

for planning

purposes to set

strategic objectives

50% of course

materials reviewed

Teaching materials

and assessment

celebrate and

promote diversity

Increase in uptake of

non traditional

subjects

LAMs

AL

JS

AL

SLT

December 1st

2019

July 1st 2019

July 1st 2019

July 1st 2019

Dependent

on

outcomes

All

All

All

2.

a. Continuously measure, monitor and improve the ways in which

2.1 Review the self-assessment process to include specific reference to equalities

Self-assessment

documentation

revised and in

operation

AL

SLT

July 1st 2019

All

we deliver courses to different groups

b. Monitor and measure academic achievement by all protected characteristics

c. Work to remove gaps in completion and attainment for identified groups

2.2 Review quality data related to all protected characteristics and monitor trends, measure progress and identify areas for improvement in terms of student performance

2.3 Consider the introduction of equality monitoring into judged lesson observations

2.4 Monitor and review student satisfaction with provision via the college’s learner engagement strategies and use outcomes to celebrate equality and diversity or to address any issues

2.5 Continue to identify ‘at risk’ learners and continue the development work in relation to supporting ‘at risk’ learners

Improvement in

outcomes

Dependent on

review

Year-on-year

improvement in

satisfaction

‘at risk students

achieve and

progress’

LAMs

AL

AL

AL

AL

SLT

SLT

SLT

July 1st 2019

September

1st 2019

September

1st 2019

All

TBD

All

Dependent

on cohort

of students

3. a. Build a positive

culture, with a common understanding and approach through which we can integrate equality issues in respect of all protected groups into everyday work

b. Develop excellence in

E&D in the classroom to

ensure the needs of all

protected characteristics

are met

3.1 Continue to raise awareness of staff through

a tailored staff development programme

3.2 Review the tutorial and pastoral programme

with a view to enhancing resources which will

promote and advance equality issues

3.3 Undertake impact assessments on prioritised

policies and processes that have an immediate

impact on students

Staff confident in

addressing issues of

inequality in their

area of responsibility

Inclusion of

materials and staff

training completed

All curriculum and

quality processes for

assessment

prioritised and

AL

RD

AL

SLT

JS

SLT

July 1st 2019

July 1st 2019

July 1st 2019

All

All

All

3.4 Provide regular updates to staff and students

on equality developments via sharepoint,

college monitors and through the Student

Parliament

timescales agreed.

Action points

included in

operational plan

Half-termly updates

Staff – SD Staff – LC Ongoing All

2. Student Services and Support

Objectives

Strategic Objective Action Performance

Measurement

Responsibility

for

Implementation

Responsibility for

monitoring

Timescale

By

PC

1. Ensure that student services are fully assessed for the impact on different protected groups and that these impact assessments are used as a basis to identify appropriate actions to address barriers experienced by particular groups. This will include all aspects of the work on Health, Safety and Wellbeing and will therefore cross over into the work to support staff

General

1.1 All policies, procedures and activities will be reviewed and prioritised in terms of the most impact on student care and wellbeing and a full impact assessment will be subsequently carried and action identified. This will be undertaken for all protected groups

Application and Enrolment

1.2 Revise the application and enrolment form to ensure that the majority of protected characteristics are incorporated and produce a fully

Prioritised list identified,

impact assessments

undertaken, action

identified and timescales

for implementation

agreed

Revised application and

enrolment form in place

JS

MB

SLT

September

2018

January 15th

2019

All

accessible electronic version to ensure accessibility

2. 1.3 Consider how information regarding sexual orientation and gender reassignment can be sensitively collected, recorded, collated and monitored

3. 1.4 Review the admissions process to ensure that there are no perceived barriers for protected groups

Support and Care

1.5 Provide additional support for those students who have been identified with Autism/Aspergers Syndrome via a newly refurbished support centre

2. 1.6 Monitor student satisfaction via the learner voice strategies to determine if there are any protected groups who are dissatisfied or at risk and identify action to overcome this

3. 1.7 Review the pastoral care/tutorial programme to include activities that support students’ understanding and awareness of equality issues

4. 1.8 Monitor the uptake of the support and care services to ensure that no protected characteristic is disadvantaged and identify action to be taken (e.g. ‘The Hub’, uptake of counselling, UCAS application)

RJ

JS

March 1st

2019

July 1st 2018

March 30th

2019

R,RE, D,A, S

SO, GR

All

5. 1.9 Continue to collect and monitor safeguarding information via the learner voice strategies and identify any action that needs to be taken Internal and external marketing

1.10 Consider how internally the college can

promote an understanding of the protected

characteristics via visual materials and

images etc – carry out an impact assessment

(response to student survey)

1.11 Engage with current and past students and external stakeholders to elicit their views about marketing materials and identify action

JS

RJ

RJ

Annually in

September

1st 2019

D

All

3.Physical environment, health and safety and estates

Objectives

Strategic Objective Action Performance

Measurement

Responsibility

for

Implementation

Responsibility

for monitoring

Timescale

By

PC

1. Engage with appropriate disability groups including staff and students to identify key environmental issues which create difficulties or barriers

1.1 Review the Estates Strategy, policies and

procedures and H&S Policy and procedures and

carry out an impact assessment involving all

protected characteristics

1.2 Introduce a staff survey to elicit their views

about the physical environment and access issues

1.3 Continue to engage with specific cohorts of

students such as those with a learning

difficulty/disability to elicit their views for

improvement

Action plan identified

Survey undertaken

and action identified

Focus groups

undertaken, feedback

analysed and action

undertaken

LC

LC

S

July 1st 2019

July 1st 2019

Annually –

All

D, GR, RE

2. Put in place a programme of improvements specific to particular groups to continue to improve access to all aspects of college business

2.1 Complete the refurbishment of the area identified for support of students with Autism/ asp

AJ

4. Procurement

Objectives

Strategic Objective Action Performance

Measurement

Responsibility for

Implementation

Responsibility

for monitoring

Timescale

By

PC

1. Ensure that other organisations who deliver functions on our behalf give due regard to equality and monitor their performance towards meeting the Duty

1.1 Undertake an impact assessment on the college’s procurement process and identify any action that needs to be taken

1.2 Ensure that contractors are aware of the college’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, The Strategic Equality Plan and their responsibilities

Assessment

completed, action

identified and

implemented

Contractors informed ,

aware of the college’s

duties and compliant

with these

LC

LC

LC July 1st 2019 All

All

5. Staff training and awareness

Strategic Objective Action Performance

Measurement

Responsibility

for

Implementation

Responsibility

for monitoring

Timescale

By

PC

1.Design and deliver a

training and awareness

programme for all staff

in respect of all

protected characteristics

and the requirements of

the duties in Wales

1.1 Undertake a comprehensive refresher programme for all college staff in partnership with Diverse Cymru which will include

Governor training

Senior Leadership Training

All college staff training

1.2 Design and deliver training for impact assessment :

Business support staff – policies, procedures and activities

Teaching staff – curriculum design, teaching resources and materials, schemes of work

1.3 Design bespoke training for different cohorts of staff based on outcomes of previous training during the year

1.4 Review the data collection of staff training to enable collation of training by protected characteristic and to identify any differential impact

All staff received

training in the

general and

specific duties of

the legislation

Identified list of

polices etc in place

and all staff

confident to

undertake the

impact assessment

and implement

actions

Equality

steering Group

GB /

AL

SLT December 1st

2018

July 1st 2019

July 1st 2019

All

All

AL

6. Human Resources and Employment

Objectives

Strategic Objective Action Performance

Measurement

Responsibility

for

Implementation

Responsibility

for monitoring

Timescale

By

PC

1. All employees made

aware of the

requirements of the

Equality & Diversity

policy and to co-

operate to ensure that

the policy is carried

out effectively

1.1 To annually communicate the Strategic Equality

Policy through the September staff inset and to ensure

all new staff have undertaken the Equality & Diversity

Training on the Compliance pack.

Conducted

annually with

100%

achievement.

HR Manager SLT member

for HR

September

annually

All

2. The College will

ensure that terms and

conditions of

employment are free

from all forms of direct

and indirect

discrimination and apply

equally regardless of

colour, race, nationality,

ethnic origin, sex, marital

status, disability, part-

time or fixed term status,

parental responsibilities,

1.2 To review terms & conditions annually under HR

review.

Conducted

annually.

HR manager SLT member

for HR

September

annually

All

age, religion/belief or

sexual orientation.

3.All employees will be

provided with the

appropriate training

(according to business

need) to enable them to

improve their

performance and to

achieve the performance

standards and targets set

for them by the College,

regardless of colour,

race, nationality, ethnic

origin, sex, marital

status, disability, part-

time or fixed term status,

parental responsibilities,

age, religion/belief or

sexual orientation.

1.3 As monitored through the college’s PMAR system

2017-18

Conducted

annually.

HR manager SLT member

for HR

September

1st annually

All