At Hebburn Lakes Primary School, we are fully committed to meeting the duties outlined in the Equality Act 2010. We aim to provide a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every pupil, member of staff, and visitor is treated with dignity and respect.

We are an inclusive school that believes in providing every child with the support they need to be the very best they can be—academically, socially, and emotionally. We celebrate the uniqueness of every learner and are committed to removing barriers so that all children can thrive.

Our ethos, “Work, Learn, Achieve Together”, underpins our commitment to equality and inclusion for all.

We actively promote equality of opportunity and are committed to:

  • Eliminating discrimination
  • Advancing equality of opportunity
  • Fostering good relations between people of all backgrounds

We celebrate diversity and ensure that all members of our school community have equal access to learning, opportunities, and support—regardless of race, religion or belief, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.

How We Promote Equality
1. Eliminating Discrimination
We ensure that equality is embedded in all aspects of school life, including:

Incorporating equality and inclusion into our curriculum design

Promoting respect, kindness, and inclusion through our Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policy

Supporting all learners through our SEND and Inclusion Policy

Ensuring fairness in our staff recruitment and CPD practices

Monitoring and responding to incidents of discrimination, harassment, and bullying

Using data to monitor pupil wellbeing, progress, and engagement

Celebrating diversity through curriculum themes, events, and school displays

Actively involving pupils and families in shaping an inclusive school culture

2. Promoting Equality of Opportunity
We advance equality of opportunity by:

Using data to identify and support underachieving groups or individuals

Targeting interventions and personalised support

Listening to the voices of pupils and parents/carers through regular communication and feedback

Ensuring all pupils can access the full range of school activities, regardless of background or need

3. Fostering Good Relationships
We foster positive relationships between different groups by:

Promoting mutual respect and understanding through PSHE, assemblies, and curriculum enrichment

Engaging with the wider community to build cultural awareness and shared values

Inviting guest speakers and running themed days/weeks to promote diversity and inclusion

Creating a school environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued

Information We Collect
To ensure we are meeting our equality duties, we collect and monitor information on:

Pupils with Protected Characteristics:

  • Race and ethnicity
  • Religion or belief
  • Gender
  • Disability
  • Sexual orientation (where applicable)

Other Groups We Monitor:

  • Pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM)
  • Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
  • Pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL)
  • Pupils who are Cared For
  • Young carers
  • Other vulnerable groups as identified through internal or external support services

This information helps us target support and ensure equity in all areas of school life.

Equality Objectives (2025–2029)
At Hebburn Lakes Primary School, we strive to ensure that everyone—children, staff, parents, and visitors—feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We are committed to ensuring equality of education and opportunity for all, irrespective of race, gender, disability, belief, religion, or socio-economic background.

To support this commitment and raise standards for all, we have identified the following objectives:

Promote Inclusive Practices Across the Curriculum
We will ensure all pupils have full access to a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum. This includes adapting teaching where needed to help every child, including those with significant SEND, develop key life skills such as communication, independence, and emotional resilience.

Reduce Gaps in Attainment and Progress

By 2029, reduce the attainment gap at the end of KS2 between middle attaining pupils from disadvantaged, SEND, EAL, and ethnic minority backgrounds and their peers by at least 10% in reading, writing, and maths combined.

Foster a Culture of Respect and Tolerance
Deliver a minimum of 6 whole-school assemblies per year focused on diversity, inclusion, and respect, and embed termly PSHE themes promoting tolerance and understanding.
Hold at least one community engagement event annually that celebrates cultural diversity and promotes inclusive values.
Improve Participation and Representation
Increase representation of pupils from underrepresented groups (e.g. SEND, EAL, disadvantaged) in leadership roles—such as the school council and pupil ambassador programme—by at least 20% over the next four years.
Ensure 75% of pupils have access to at least one extracurricular activity annually, with targeted support to encourage participation from underrepresented groups.
Monitoring and Review
These objectives are reviewed and updated every four years, with progress monitored annually by the Senior Leadership Team and reported to the Governing Body. The next full review is scheduled for July 2029.