Equality Diversity | Arena Training Website

Summary: Arena Training Centre is committed to promoting and advancing equality and diversity for its staff and students. We provide a learning and working environment that values individuals equally and does not disadvantage anyone by discriminating on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex (gender), and sexual orientation. This policy outlines our responsibilities, statutory duties, and commitments across recruitment, teaching, support, and the working environment.

Policy Statement

Arena Training Centre is committed to the promotion and advancement of equality and diversity for its staff and students. We aim to provide a learning and working environment which values individuals equally and does not disadvantage individuals by discriminating on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex (gender), and sexual orientation.

For information on the definitions of the protected characteristics listed above please see www.equalityhumanrights.com and search for protected characteristics.

Responsibilities

All staff and students are responsible for their own conduct and should ensure that their behaviour does not make any other person feel uncomfortable. Every member of staff and every student have a responsibility to question their own prejudices and assumptions. It is the duty of all staff and students to avoid unfair discriminatory practices, to challenge them in others and to accept personal responsibility for abiding by this policy.

The Directors are responsible for ensuring that all services, functions and policies promote equality and the Centre is compliant with the statutory duty to carry out equality impact assessment. The Managing Director will ensure that any identified actions are implemented and evaluated for effectiveness.

Visitors, contractors and subcontractors must comply with the Centre's Equality and Diversity Policy. Centre staff who meet visitors and/or employ contractors and subcontractors are responsible for making them aware of the Centre's Equality and Diversity Policy.

Statutory Duties

The Centre will abide by its current statutory duties for students and staff, in line with its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and resulting duty to:

Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
Advance equality of opportunity.
Foster good relations between different groups.

Students

Regarding recruitment and admissions, the Centre will ensure that:

Recruitment and publicity materials are designed in a range of formats to ensure they are free from bias and stereotypes, and encourage applicants from all groups in the community.
Applicants for courses are considered on the basis of their ability to meet the entry criteria, as specified in course information.
Applicants are not treated less favourably because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex (gender) and sexual orientation.
Applicants are interviewed on the basis of their academic ability and/or potential to succeed.
Application and enrolment procedures give students the opportunity to identify any additional learning support available for their needs.
Where assessment(s) form part of the application process for a particular course, all applicants will take the same assessment(s), with adjustments being made for identified additional learning needs.
New students are made aware of the Equality and Diversity Policy and the behaviour expected of them during induction.

Teaching and Learning

The Centre will ensure that:

All aspects of teaching are sensitive to, and promote, equality and diversity, including language used, timetabling, delivery methods, materials, group organisation and activities.
Teaching and learning materials and delivery methods avoid stereotypes and bias, and promote the rich cultural diversity of the local community.
Equality and diversity and access for everyone to develop their potential are embedded in the teaching and learning strategy.
There is an ethos and learning environment which is inclusive and enables students to feel comfortable and valued as an individual.

Support Services and Facilities

The Centre will:

Provide a range of support services and facilities which will enable students with particular physical, social and cultural needs to participate fully in centre life, including: tutorial support, additional support with learning (for example English and Maths), additional learning support (for example dyslexia, hearing and autistic) and provision of prayer facilities.
Seek to make improvements to the physical access of the building and make reasonable adjustments to ensure that students, staff and visitors with access requirements due to disability are not disadvantaged.

Recruitment and Selection

The Centre will:

When a vacancy arises, prepare a person specification identifying the essential and desirable levels of qualifications/training, knowledge/experience and skills/abilities required for the job.
Advertise jobs to attract applicants who meet the person specification.
Consider applicants on the basis of their suitability for the job and their ability to fulfil the requirements set out in the person specification.

Training and Development

The Centre will:

Identify annually, training and development needs through regular team meetings and evaluation from students.
Make available a range of training opportunities to meet individuals' needs.
Include Equality and Diversity training as part of the induction for new staff.

Working Environment

The Centre will make reasonable adjustments to premises or working arrangements to ensure that employees are not disadvantaged on the grounds of any protected characteristics.

Harassment, Victimisation and Discrimination

The Centre will not tolerate harassment, victimisation or discrimination and has procedures in place to deal with such incidents.

Students who feel they have been harassed or discriminated against, or otherwise treated unfairly within the scope of this policy, may raise their concerns with their tutor in the first instance.
Alternatively, they may discuss the issue with a Director, who will advise and assist them should they wish to pursue the matter through the grievance procedures.
Staff who feel that they have been unfairly treated within the scope of this policy may raise their concern with the Managing Director.
Staff or students whose conduct breaches this policy through discrimination, harassment or victimisation of others will be dealt with through disciplinary procedures, as appropriate.