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Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Oaktree Education Services is fully committed to promoting, maintaining, and supporting equality and diversity across every branch of our organisation. Whether within our school, post-16 college, alternative provision settings, or supported accommodation, we ensure that every individual who learns, lives, or works with us is valued.

We recognise that embracing diversity is the cornerstone of high-quality teaching, holistic support, and personal growth. We take pride in providing our local communities with a high standard of education and a safe, inclusive living environment. OES aims to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation, fostering strong, positive relations between our students, residents, staff, and the wider community.

We strive to maintain an environment built on dignity and respect, free from harassment and bullying. Our goal is to provide a space where there is genuine equality of opportunity, allowing our students and residents to achieve their full potential while celebrating the rich diversity that defines the OES community.

How We Support EDI

At Oaktree Education Services, we welcome individuals from all backgrounds and origins. We believe that a modern educational and care provider must reflect the people it serves, both in how we deliver our services and how we employ our staff.

We are dedicated to tackling all forms of discrimination and addressing the inequalities or disadvantages people may face. OES strictly adheres to all legislative requirements regarding equality and diversity. We have a legal and moral duty to ensure our services, from classroom learning to supported housing, are accessible to everyone regardless of:

  • Race or ethnicity

  • Disability or neurodiversity

  • Gender and gender reassignment

  • Age

  • Religion or belief

  • Pregnancy and maternity

  • Sexual orientation

As an employer, we ensure equal opportunity for all in recruitment, professional training, and career progression.

Our EDI Aims

Across our school, post-16, AP, and housing provisions, Oaktree Education Services aims to:

  • Cultivate a Culture of Fairness: Ensure that respect for diversity is visible and lived out in every interaction.

  • Remove Barriers: Minimise disadvantages suffered by individuals due to protected characteristics.

  • Provide Bespoke Support: Take proactive steps to meet the specific needs of protected groups, acknowledging that "equal" does not always mean "the same."

  • Encourage Participation: Empower our students and residents to participate fully in public life and activities where their voices have historically been under-represented.

The Oaktree Commitment

To turn our values into action, we commit to:

  • Human Rights: Supporting and respecting human rights as the fundamental basis for all our work.

  • Dignity in Care and Education: Treating every student, resident, and staff member with absolute respect.

  • Creative Solutions: Finding sustainable, innovative ways to improve equality and increase diversity.

  • Continuous Learning: Evaluating our progress honestly, celebrating our successes and learning from areas where we can improve.

  • Accessible Language: Using clear, everyday language in all our communications regarding equality and diversity.

  • Active Challenge: Working together to challenge discrimination in all forms and dismantling barriers to equality.

  • Strategic Integration: Ensuring that equality is not an "add-on" but is integral to our strategy, policy development, and daily practice.

  • Impact Assessments: Regularly reviewing our services and accommodation to ensure they remain accessible and responsive to individual needs.

  • Closing the Gap: Actively seeking to reduce educational and social inequalities to improve outcomes for every person under our care.

  • Awareness: Constantly improving staff, student, and resident understanding of EDI issues through ongoing education and dialogue.

How does OES comply with the Equality Act 2010?

Oaktree Education Services (OES) is fully committed to promoting, maintaining, and supporting equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across all of our provisions, including our school, post-16 college, alternative provision settings, and supported accommodation.

OES strictly adheres to all legislative requirements regarding equality and diversity. We recognise our legal and moral duty to ensure that our services and employment practices are free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.

As a provider of education and care, OES actively complies with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) by integrating its three core aims into our daily practice, strategy, and policy development:

Eliminating Discrimination: Cultivating a culture of dignity, fairness, and respect that is free from harassment and bullying.

Advancing Equality of Opportunity: Removing barriers, minimizing disadvantages, and providing bespoke support to meet the specific needs of protected groups—acknowledging that "equal" does not always mean "the same."  

Fostering Good Relations: Encouraging full participation in public life and activities, tackling prejudice, and celebrating the rich diversity that defines the OES community.

Annual Review and Accountability

To ensure our commitment remains active and compliant with the PSED:

Annual Updates: Our equality information, service delivery data, and progress against our EDI commitments are reviewed and updated annually.

Review Responsibility: This annual evaluation is conducted honestly by the OES Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Governing Body, who honestly assess progress, celebrate successes, and identify areas for continuous learning. This includes conducting regular Impact Assessments to ensure our classrooms and accommodation remain responsive to individual needs.

Equality Objectives (4-Year Cycle)

In line with statutory requirements, Oaktree Education Services formulates and publishes specific, measurable Equality Objectives at least every four years. These strategic objectives focus on:

Closing the Gap: Actively seeking to reduce educational and social inequalities to improve outcomes for every person under our care.

Strategic Integration: Ensuring equality is at the heart of policy development and daily practice.

Awareness & Dialogue: Constantly improving staff, student, and resident understanding of EDI issues through ongoing education and creative solutions.

Our Commitment to Student Success and Well-being through remote learning and guidance
At OES, we are dedicated to providing an inclusive, high-quality learning environment that empowers every student to reach their full potential, whether studying in the classroom or remotely.

Flexible & Supportive Learning
We understand that every student’s journey is unique. To ensure our learners feel safe, comfortable, and supported, OES utilises a diverse range of educational tools. This includes the option for virtual sessions via Microsoft Teams, allowing us to meet students where they are comfortable while maintaining robust engagement and connection.

High Expectations & Positive Engagement
We hold high aspirations for all our students. Learners are expected to actively engage with their education and meet the clear standards of behaviour and participation set by our staff. By fostering a culture of mutual respect and adhering to the good order of our community, we create a purposeful environment where everyone can succeed.

A Person-Centered Curriculum
We believe education should be shaped by the individual. We actively encourage our students to express their personal ambitions and interests. To support this, our timetables and pathways are flexibly designed around each student’s unique needs, future aspirations, and personal strengths.

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