Mercia01065

Ethos & Values

The Mercia Academy is committed to educating our students to recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith and constantly evolving nature of British society. The school is also dedicated to preparing them for adult life and ensuring that fundamental British values are promoted to all our students.

Learning without Limits Learning bridges age barriers: we work with our primary schools to ensure smooth and effective transition to our school, and with Post16 providers to ensure students have a positive move to their next stage of education or training; through the RISE assessment framework we develop students’ metacognitive and evaluative skills to build their own learning skills for life; all staff train and work together to learn more about our roles and how to perform them better, including taking part in research projects related to our roles; we include members of the community, of all ages, in our learning activities whenever we can.

Learning crosses geographical barriers: knowing that our students will take their part in a global community, we offer opportunities to travel to other countries as well as experience different settings in the UK; our curriculum educates students well in understanding other cultures and British values so that they can take part positively and successfully in the communities they will inhabit; the school building offers a physical space for learning, including sessions before and after school; we offer a wide range of on-line learning opportunities to enable learning to continue outside of the school building.

Learning overcomes curriculum restrictions: we offer a curriculum with a strong foundation in traditional GCSEs alongside a wide vocational offer, including the arts; our innovative RISE curriculum links learning and vital skills for being safe and understanding the world; a wide range of extra-curricular activities offers different and new skills outside of the school day; high quality, award winning embedded careers education, the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, community projects and charity work further develops the vital wider skills that workplaces value and students need for success

 

Equality and Objectives

The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to ensure protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of specific characteristics (referred to as protected characteristics). For schools, this means that it is unlawful to discriminate against students or treat them less favourably because of their gender; race; disability; religion or belief; gender reassignment; sexual orientation; pregnancy or maternity.

The Equality Act says that schools and other public bodies must:

  • Encourage good relations and ensure everyone has equality of opportunity.
  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
  • Help make sure everyone has an equal chance to make the most of their lives and talents.

More information can be found here on the Equalities Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty.

In line with our duties under the Equality Act, we assess our existing practices in relation to equality and consider objectives to help us improve further.

These objectives are:

  1. Through the RISE curriculum, promote cultural understanding, awareness and respect of different religious beliefs between different ethnic groups within our school community.
  2. Working towards closing gaps in attainment and achievement between students and all groups of students; especially students eligible for free-school meals, students with special educational needs and disabilities, looked after children and students from minority ethnic groups.
  3. Continue to improve accessibility across the school for students, staff and visitors with disabilities, including access to specialist teaching areas.
  4. Endeavour to ensure that the staff body and representation of staff in leadership roles is reflective of the local community.
  5. Monitor and promote the involvement of all groups of students in the extra-curricular life of the school, including leadership opportunities, especially students with special educational needs and disabilities.
  6. Reduce the incidence of the use of homophobic, sexist and racist language by students in the school.

PRIDE

Presentation

Of your uniform, your work and your conduct to be of the highest standards

 

Respect

Yourself, your education, your peers, your teachers and your school

 

Inclusive

Community where everyone is accepted and included

 

Drive

To achieve and be successful in your future

 

Endeavour

To work hard and persist even when things get difficult