Agenda item

To consider the Equality of Opportunity statement.

Trustees considered a draft Equality of Opportunity Statement for the Trust and the following points were made:

• The draft Equality of Opportunity Statement outlined the Trust’s vision to build and support strong, sustainable, and cohesive academies within local communities through inclusive policies, processes and employment.  The Statement captured the role of the People, Equalities and Inclusion Committee in providing strategic direction on equality and inclusion and ensuring the Trust’s compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty, including monitoring and reviewing its provision to give fair and equal access to all.  The Statement also outlined the Trust’s commitment to promote equality of opportunity to the Trust’s employees and students as well as develop community relations with relevant partners, voluntary sector agencies, contractors and those who delivered services on the Trust’s behalf.

• A Trustee underlined the need to include the vision for governance in the Equality of Opportunity Statement and this was supported by the Committee which agreed the following amendment:

“COLAT People, Equality and Inclusion Committee provides strategic direction on equality and inclusion, including its consistent implementation by the Board of Trustees, and ensures compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty.”

In response to a suggestion from another Trustee, the Chair confirmed that the Equal Opportunities Statement would be developed over time to become a more personalised statement of the Trust’s aims but at present it served as a clear statement of the Trust’s vision and commitment in the area of equal opportunities.

RESOLVED, that the Equality of Opportunity Statement be agreed, subject to the above amendment.