Equal Opportunities Policy

Academy of Vocational and Professional Training Ltd is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to a pro-active and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and values diversity. This commitment is underpinned by AVPT Ltd's core values, expressed in its mission statement:

• Freedom of thought and expression.
• Freedom from discrimination.

AVPT Ltd is therefore committed to a policy and practice which require that, for students, admission to AVPT Ltd and progression within vocational and professional studies will be determined only by personal merit and by performance. For trainer, entry into employment with AVPT Ltd and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and by the application of criteria which are related to the duties and conditions of each particular post and the needs of the institution concerned.

Subject to statutory provisions, no student, member of trainer, applicant for admission as a student, or applicant for appointment as a member of trainer will be treated less favourably than another because of her or his belonging to a protected group. This commitment applies to a former student, alumnus or alumna, or former employee where the alleged unlawful conduct arises out of and is closely connected to the former student's or former trainer member's previous relationship with AVPT Ltd.

Protected groups are defined in the Equality Act 2010 as Sex, Gender Reassignment, Marriage or Civil Partnership, Pregnancy or Maternity, Race (including Ethnic or National Origin, Nationality or Colour), Disability, Sexual Orientation, Age, or Religion or Belief. AVPT Ltd respects all religious and philosophical beliefs, as well as the lack of religion or belief, and the right of all members of its community to discuss and debate these issues freely.

If any person admitted as a student or appointed as a member of the training staff considers that he or she is suffering from unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimization in her or his admission, appointment, or progression through AVPT Ltd because of belonging to any of the above protected groups, he or she may make a complaint, which will be dealt with through the agreed procedures for complaints or grievances or the procedures for dealing with bullying and harassment, as appropriate.

AVPT Ltd will take active steps to promote good practice. In particular it will:

1. Work towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimization based on a protected characteristic, whether actual, perceptive, or associative.
2. Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
3. Foster good relations between persons who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
4. Subject its policies to continuous assessment in order to examine how they affect protected groups and to identify whether its policies help to achieve equality of opportunity for all these groups, or whether they have an adverse impact.
5. Monitor the recruitment and progress of all students and trainers, collecting and collating equalities information and data as required by law or for the furtherance of University equalities objectives.
6. Promote an inclusive culture, good practice in teaching, learning, and assessment, and good management practice, through the development of codes of best practice, policies, and training.
7. Take positive action wherever possible to support this policy and its aims.
8. Publish this policy widely amongst trainer and students, together with policy assessments, equality analysis and results of monitoring.

The Equal Opportunities Policy will be enacted through by AVPT Ltd's Equality Objectives, associated implementation plans, and the Combined Equality Scheme. The Combined Equality Scheme explains how AVPT Ltd will fulfil its statutory obligations in relation to equalities legislation.

It considers:

• Governance and Policy Development, including relevant committees, compliance, equal pay, assessing the impact of policies and practices and reporting.
• Developing and Implementing Best Practice.
• Inclusive Practice for Students and Trainer—including AVPT Ltd's Diversity Networks, Dignity@Work, and Dignity at Study procedures.
• Promotion of Equality and Diversity, including relevant diversity events, training, and guidance.
• Data and Information Provision, including appropriate monitoring and compliance reporting.

Progress against actions and objectives will be reported in the Equality and Diversity Annual Reviews and Data Reports.

AVPT Ltd will meet all statutory obligations under relevant legislation and, where appropriate, anticipate future legal requirements. This will be informed by:

• The Equality Act (2010) and associated secondary legislation.
• Criminal Justice and Immigration Act (2008).
• The Racial and Religious Hatred Act (2006).
• The Civil Partnership Act (2004).
• The Gender Recognition Act (2004).
• Criminal Justice Act (2003).
• The Human Rights Act (1998).
• The Protection from Harassment Act (1997).
• Special Education Needs and Disability Act (2001).

In addition, this will be informed by the Codes of Practice or Guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and other relevant bodies. These Codes are not legally binding (though they are admissible as evidence in Employment Tribunals) and AVPT Ltd supports them fully.

This policy will be amended as appropriate to meet the demands of future legislation.

Combined Equality Scheme (CES)

AVPT Ltd's Equality & Diversity (E&D) section has been tasked with providing specialist expertise to support AVPT Ltd's functions and specific duties as an employer and public/private education provider.

AVPT Ltd is responsible for taking steps to identify, prevent and eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and promote equality of opportunity and good relations. AVPT Ltd is also obliged to develop, review and publish regular reports defining how the institution is progressing equality for those groups protected by equalities law.

The Equality Act 2010 replaces numerous Acts and Regulations and strengthens equality and discrimination law. Instead of separate instruments, The Act defines a list of protected characteristics on the basis of which it would be unlawful to discriminate. It places Age, Marriage and Civil Partnership, Religion or Belief, Sexual Orientation and Gender Reassignment on equal legal terms with Race, Gender and Disability. The Act also incorporates specific requirements, for example equality schemes, monitoring and reporting, equality impact assessments, action planning and benchmarking.

In response to the ending of formal distinctions between the different equalities strands, AVPT Ltd has moved from reporting against Race, Gender and Disability, to adopting a Combined Equality Scheme.

Combined Equality Scheme: Strategic Themes

In developing the Combined Equality Scheme, five strategic themes were identified that reflect the operational processes through which AVPT Ltd engages with its community, identifies equality objectives and priorities, and meets its broader legal duties. These themes are indicated below.

1. Governance and Policy Development
   Effective structures and mechanisms to approve, implement, monitor, assess, review, update, consult and report upon policies and actions to achieve legal compliance and progress equality.
2. Developing and Implementing Best Practice
   Enabling AVPT Ltd to refine its equality and diversity practice via the on-going work through AVPT Ltd's governance structures, the development of viable benchmarks and performance matrix and the provision of specialised training.
3. Inclusive Practice for Staff and Students
   Ensuring AVPT Ltd is an inclusive institution for all its diverse staff and students; establishing mechanisms for engagement, representation and support; promoting good employment, teaching and learning practice and eliminating any and all forms of discrimination, harassment or unfair treatment.
4. Promotion of Equality and Diversity
   Meeting the public equality duty to promote good relations between different groups; facilitating AVPT Ltd's participation in equality and diversity projects, activities and external networks locally, regionally and nationally; addressing any under-representation of specific communities, and providing opportunities to promote AVPT Ltd as an excellent employer and education provider.
5. Data and Information Provision
   Communications, raising awareness of and promoting policies, data and management information in relation to equality and diversity commitments and objectives across AVPT Ltd and, where appropriate, externally.