J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT is committed to equality of opportunity for staff, students, employers, community groups and members of the public, on all sites, and for all others who come into contact with J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT representatives. We are proud to be a multi-cultural, multi racial organisation and we are fundamentally opposed to racism, sexism and any other form of violent, abusive or irrational discriminatory behaviour.

Any complaints of discrimination or harassment will be treated seriously, be fully investigated and may result in disciplinary action by J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT Trustees

J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will develop, implement and publicise policies which promote equal opportunities for all members of J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT.

J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will provide in-service training opportunities for all staff, relating to the Equal Opportunities Policy and its implementation.

The Policy needs to be read in conjunction with J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT:-

Development Plan and Mission Statement

Student Charter

Race Equality Policy

This policy applies to the following:

·        All students, whether full-time; part-time; day release; attending short courses or link courses

·        All trainees who are sub contracted to J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT via other Training Providers

·        All visitors

·        All staff, whether full-time or part-time; in teaching or support roles and voluntary workers working in or for J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT. Staff on agreed leave of absence continue to be members of J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT

·       Outside contractors working with J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT

The following list indicates the kinds of acts which might occur in incidents of discrimination/harassment:

·        Physical assault and abuse

·        Verbal threat and abuse

·        Unwelcome physical contact

·        Derogatory name-calling, insults, demeaning jokes

·        Offensive comments

·       Incitement of others to behave in an offensive or oppressive manner

·        Provocative behaviour, mimicry etc.

·        Wearing of racist or sexist badges or insignia

·        Graffiti directed against an individual or vulnerable group

·       Displaying or distributing materials (e.g. emails, audio/visual, leaflets or magazines) containing offensive material

·        Attempts to recruit other users, staff or students to racist organisations or other such groups.

Codes of practice

The main legislation covering equal opportunities includes:

·        The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (1970)

·        The Equal Pay Act (1970, amended 1983)

·        The Sex Discrimination Act (1975)

·        The Race Relations Act (1976) and Race Relations Amendment Act (2000)

·        The Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act (1986)

·        The Disability Discrimination Act (1995)

·        The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (2001)

·        The Human Rights Act (1998)

·        The Learning and Skills Act (2001)                              

·       The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (2006)

Any subsequent legislation will be incorporated within this policy

The policy also takes into account the recommendations and guidelines from the following key reports:

·        Kennedy report on Widening Participation

·        Tomlinson report on Inclusive Learning

·        Moser report on Basic Skills

·        Macpherson Report on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry

·        Success for All

·        Widening Participation in Further Education

General Policy

Access

·        All entrance qualifications for J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT courses will relate to standards laid down by the appropriate validating body or to objective criteria relating to course content and outcomes.

·        All potential J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT students who meet the entrance qualifications will have equal access to the J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT curriculum. J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will not discriminate in providing access to opportunities and facilities related to their course of study.

·        All students will have equal access to general J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT facilities and to appropriate social or extra curriculum activities offered by J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT.

·       Under-represented groups will be encouraged to participate in all J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT courses and activities.

·       J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will continue to widen participation amongst the under-represented communities by developing community based access centres.

Marketing and Recruitment

·        J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will seek to ensure that the curriculum offered is relevant to the needs of all the communities which it seeks to serve by consulting them.

·        An Equal Opportunities statement will appear in all J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT prospectuses.

·        J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT publicity will reflect the cultural diversity of the J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT community and will avoid all types of negative stereotyping.

·        Efforts will be made to ensure that J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT publicity reaches all sections of the communities served by J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT. J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will use formal and informal networks of women’s groups, disability groups and minority ethnic communities. Where appropriate, recruitment literature will be printed in appropriate languages and bilingual staff will be available to provide bilingual IAG.

·        Information about special facilities and resources for supported learning students and students with disabilities will be included in the J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT prospectus, the Disability Policy and other publicity materials.

·        Key documents are available in other formats such as Braille, audio, large print.

Curriculum and Learning Support

All students are entitled to undergo an induction so that they are made aware of J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT Equal Opportunities Policy. J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will seek to ensure that curriculum content and learning resources are in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Policy.

·        J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will ensure that its curriculum reflects the needs, interests and experiences of its students and its community.

·        Curriculum initiatives which seek to foster positive attitudes towards equality of opportunity will be encouraged.

·        Materials used on courses (e.g. textbooks, videos, etc) will be demonstrably free of stereotyping on the grounds of race, ethnicity, sex or disability.

·        Staff will review syllabi, course content and teaching methodology, so that all these are supportive of a tolerant, understanding, multicultural society and promote anti-discriminatory practices.

·        Attendance patterns, timetable structures and modes of delivery will reflect a variety of approaches to meet individual needs (e.g. open learning supported self study, modular structures and flexible times and courses).

·        All full-time/part time students will be assessed for basic skills/additional support needs at the beginning of their course of study.

·        Students will have access to learning support services, e.g. help with language, literacy, numeracy, study skills and dyslexia support.

·        All students who are speakers of other languages will be entitled to English language support to enable them to pursue their studies effectively.

·        Bilingualism will be regarded as advantageous. Ensure that where demand is suitable, classes in students’ home languages will continue to be available and will occupy a place in the curriculum, which reflects their importance to ethnic minority students.

Student Support

·       All students will be offered access to tutorial and pastoral support which is relevant to their needs and course of study.

·       All students will have access to course guidance, personal counselling, career education and welfare advice

·        The specific needs of International students will be taken account of e.g. through the provision of special guidance, counselling and assistance in finding suitable accommodation.

·        Specialist equipment and software is made available for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Staffing and Staff Development

·        All potential staff will have equal access to employment opportunities, provided they meet the requirements of the job description and person specification.

·        J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will actively seek to select and appoint staff displaying sensitivity and understanding of equal opportunity issues.

·        J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will not discriminate in providing access to training, promotion and career development opportunities.

·        Under-represented groups will be encouraged to apply for posts and to participate fully in the life of J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT
 

·        All staff in J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will be encouraged to undertake the training necessary to enable them to effectively comply with the college’s Equal Opportunities Policy. J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will provide training and staff development to support the implementation of this policy.

Environment and Facilities

·       J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will endeavour to create a safe, welcoming environment which enables each student to feel comfortable and reach her or his full learning potential.

·        Graffiti is an act of anti-social behaviour and can be illegal. Its perpetrators will be prosecuted and appropriate disciplinary measures pursued to the full on all occasions.

·        All practical steps will be taken to provide safe access and working conditions on J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT premises for students with learning difficulties/disabilities. J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT has carried out an access audit of all its premises, made appropriate adjustments.

·       J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will endeavour to provide appropriate learning resources, recreational facilities and other students from J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT.

·       J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT will endeavour to provide facilities for individual worship where possible.

Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

Copies of the Policy are available to all staff and students from J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT

All staff and students will be made aware of the Policy and implementation strategy at induction.

The implementation of this Policy will be monitored and evaluated by management and will be subject to an annual review.

Data generated by the J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT Information System will be used systematically to monitor students’ retention, exclusion, achievement and progression.

Equal Opportunities will form an integral part of the annual course/curriculum review and the Self-Assessment Reports.

The Board of Trustees will receive regular Equal Opportunities Reports analysing the student and staffing profile in terms of gender, ethnicity and disability.

Complaints

A complaints procedure exists for the use and protection of all members of the J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT community and is an appropriate way of raising and dealing with complaints relating to any breach of the policy.

Advice/Support

Students/staff needing support/advice or information about related issues will be able to obtain this by contacting one of the following:

J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT

J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT Trustees
 

J.A.R.E. Airline Training Partnership ECT Staff

Trustee responsible for policy:

Andrew N.S.Easton, Chair of Trustees.