Equality and diversity policy and procedure

WALDORF MODERN TEACHER EDUCATION (WMTE) intends to be a truly open, accessible and diverse organisation and is committed to the principle of equal opportunities in employment and education regardless of a person’s gender, race, sexual orientation, age, disability or religious belief or other specific factors which result in discrimination.

To achieve this we need to ensure that none of our policies and procedures places any unnecessary barriers for students or staff.

• All  leaders and tutors have  personal responsibility for the implementation of this policy.
• WMTE will endeavour to ensure that the following good practice informs the actions of tutors and students.
• WMTE seeks to ensure equality of opportunity and treatment for everyone in relation to all of its activities.
• WMTE recognises the existence of discrimination, and is committed to making changes in any area of its practice where there is evidence of failure to provide an appropriate and professional service.
• WMTE will work actively towards eliminating discrimination, harassment and bullying because of race, colour, ethnic origin, gender, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, age, or any other grounds.

In the event that staff or students are alleged to be in breach of WMTE Equality and Diversity policy, an investigation will be carried out in accordance with agreed procedures. Depending on the outcome, guidance, advice, counselling and training may be offered to ensure compliance. A serious breach of the Equality and Diversity Policy and Procedure may constitute gross misconduct.

WMTE operates within a set of agreed equal opportunities definitions, which can be found as an Appendix to this Policy

Procedural Objectives

WMTE will work actively to make progress in five key areas:

Discrimination

Eliminating any discrimination in relation to tutor or student recruitment and promotion, the purchase of goods and services, and in the content, delivery and management of the curriculum

WMTE will ensure that its equality and diversity policy is publicised as widely as possible to its community, including students, volunteers and staff.

Harassment

Ensuring that all students, staff and visitors can go about their business in an atmosphere free of intimidation or abuse.
WMTE will review the effectiveness of procedures, so that staff and students feel confident to raise issues of concern about equal opportunities, and to make complaints about discrimination, harrassment or bullying.

Widening Participation

Encouraging maximum access to the full range of educational provision of all social backgrounds and cultures.
This includes monitoring patterns of admissions and working to ensure that the admissions process is based only on student needs and aptitudes.

Inclusive Learning

Providing support, wherever possible, to enable individual students of different abilities and needs to progress through the curriculum towards successful achievement.

WMTE will monitor and review the curriculum, and the learning resources used to deliver the curriculum, to ensure that they reflect and promote equal opportunities.

Celebrating Diversity

Recognising and reflecting the positive contributions of men and women of different social backgrounds, cultures, religions, abilities, ages and sexual orientation.

Responsibilities

The Core Tutors are responsible for ensuring that a policy of equal opportunities is continuously promoted and comprehensively implemented in all aspects of WMTE practice.

Legislation

The Policy reflects national legislation and guidelines as provided by The Equality Act 2010.

Procedural Monitoring and Evaluation

The Course Leaders will monitor and evaluate the success of this policy, ensuring that it is made available to all staff and students and that it is reviewed at the set review date.

Key performance indicators will include:

• Age, ethnicity, gender and disability profile of WI tutors
• Age, ethnicity, gender, disability and profile of WMTE students
• Numbers of complaints or grievances of harassment and discrimination
• Attendance at equal opportunities training events

Complaints procedure

If a student has a complaint or grievance about any matter, academic or non-academic, he or she is encouraged to raise the matter at an early stage with an appropriate member of staff. 

Informal complaints

Students are encouraged to approach those concerned for an informal discussion.  The Course Leaders are available to discuss issues that students may have. 

Formal complaints

If a resolution has not been found following the steps of the informal complaints procedure, the student can contact the Course Leaders, stating the nature of the problem and steps taken so far.  The Course Leaders will arrange a meeting with a Complaints Committee, which may consist of

• A course Leader
• The petitioner
• An advocate for the petitioner, approved by all parties, who may be internal or external to the training
• The tutor/student in question
• An advocate for a tutor may be any member of the faculty, an advocate for a student must be approved by all parties and may be internal or external to the training
• A member of the CIC, the body to whom WMTE tutors and directors are accountable
• A secretary to take minutes 

Following the meeting, a letter will be sent to the petitioner outlining the resolution from the Complaints Committee. If a sensible route or successful resolution cannot be found there is an independent outside adjudicator who is an experienced Teacher Education professional and a member of ASWTE: Jill Tina Taplin, who leads the NESWEC Early Years training jill@neswec.org.u