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    • Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging

    Sparken Hill Academy

    Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging

    Every child at Sparken Hill should see themselves in their school, have what they need to succeed, and know that they belong here.

    Watch: our values in action

    We are an inclusive school where everyone is welcomed and valued equally. We celebrate the many heritages, languages and beliefs in our community, we remove barriers so that every child can take part in everything we offer, and we make sure every child and family feels they belong.

    • 17languages spoken at home by our pupils
    • 3 to 11one school from Nursery to Year 6
    • Every phasehas its own SENCO, from Foundation Stage to Year 6
    • 4members of our Community Team, supporting families every day

    What these words mean at Sparken Hill

    Each one connects to the British values we teach. The coloured tags show which.

    • Diversity

      Seeing and celebrating our differences.
      • Our curriculum takes children from Worksop to Kenya, the Amazon, Ancient Egypt and the Arctic, and back to the history of our own town.
      • Religious Education follows the Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire Agreed Syllabus, exploring Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhi and Humanism.
      • Class texts are chosen to show a wide range of people, places and experiences.
      • Festivals, assemblies and themed weeks celebrate the cultures of our families.
      • Tolerance
      • Individual liberty

    • Inclusion

      Everyone takes part, whatever their needs.
      • Teachers adapt their teaching so every child can reach the same ambitious learning, rather than giving some children less.
      • A SENCO for each phase and a team of specialist Teaching Assistants plan and review support with families.
      • We work with speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, occupational therapists and other specialists.
      • Pupils with SEND take part fully in every part of school life, including trips, clubs and performances.
      • Mutual respect
      • Democracy

    • Equity

      Giving each child what they need to succeed.
      • Fair doesn't always mean the same. Support is matched to each child, so that no one is held back by their starting point.
      • Pupil Premium funding is targeted at the barriers our disadvantaged pupils face.
      • Breakfast club and holiday activities help children start each day, and each holiday, ready to learn.
      • Our wheelchair-accessible minibus means every child can go on trips and visits.
      • The rule of law

    • Belonging

      Feeling safe, known and valued.
      • Every child is known by name, and staff build warm, trusting relationships.
      • Pupils have a real voice through the School Council, pupil voice surveys and school jobs.
      • Children can share a worry in the way that suits them: worry boxes, the Worry Line, a trusted adult, or a QR code on their iPad in Key Stage 2.
      • Our Community Team is in the playground every morning for families to talk to.
      • Democracy
      • Mutual respect
      • Individual liberty

    Equality and equity: what's the difference?

    Equality gives everyone the same. Equity gives everyone what they need, so that everyone can see over the fence. At Sparken Hill we aim for equity, so that every child reaches the same ambitious goals.

    EqualityEveryone gets the same box, but the fence (a barrier to learning) still blocks the shortest child.
    EquityEach child gets the support they need, so everyone can see over the fence.

    Books that reflect our world

    We want every child to find themselves in the books they read, and to meet people whose lives are different from their own. Here are some of the texts in our current plans, from Reception to Year 6.

    • Pumpkin SoupReception
    • Lost and FoundKey Stage 1
    • The Koala Who CouldKey Stage 1
    • The Great Kapok TreeYears 3 and 4
    • Africa is Not a CountryYears 3 and 4
    • The Akimbo AdventuresYears 3 and 4
    • Rose BlancheYears 5 and 6
    • Kensuke's KingdomYears 5 and 6
    • Pig Heart BoyYears 5 and 6

    Inspirational People

    Every class studies an Inspirational Person across the whole year, and each teacher chooses someone different. Children learn about people from many backgrounds who have made a difference, and see that success is not limited by who you are or where you come from.

    Alongside these, history, science, art and music introduce children to significant people from Britain and around the world.

    Equality information and objectives

    As an academy, we follow the Public Sector Equality Duty in the Equality Act 2010. We update this information every year and set new equality objectives at least every four years. Our objectives are agreed by the Trust Board and are part of our School Improvement Plan.

    How we meet the three aims of the duty

    • Eliminate discrimination

      • Clear Equality, Behaviour and Anti-bullying policies, applied consistently.
      • Every prejudice-related incident is recorded, followed up and reported to the Trust Board.
      • Fair, safer recruitment and regular staff training.

    • Advance equality of opportunity

      • A SENCO for each phase and an Accessibility Plan.
      • Pupil Premium targeted at barriers to learning.
      • Support for pupils new to English, and free breakfast club.

    • Foster good relations

      • British values, PSHE and RE taught in every year group.
      • Festivals, themed weeks and diverse class texts.
      • Pupil voice, parent surveys and our Community Team.

    Our pupils, 2026-27

    • 517
      pupils from Nursery to Year 6
    • 46%
      eligible for free school meals
    • 19%
      with special educational needs
    • 18%
      learning English as an additional language

    We use this information, with attainment, attendance and pupil voice, to choose our objectives. As we have fewer than 150 staff, we are not required to publish staff data.

    Our equality objectives, 2026 to 2030

    1. 2026-27: year 1
    2. 2027-28
    3. 2028-29
    4. 2029-30

    1. Objective 1: Pupils with SEND take a full part in school life

      • Disability

      What we will do

      Track who takes part in clubs, trips, residentials and pupil leadership roles, and remove barriers so pupils with SEND take part as often as their classmates. Deliver our Accessibility Plan 2026 to 2029.

      How we will know

      Participation of pupils with SEND is in line with all pupils by July 2028, measured each term from an autumn 2026 baseline.

    2. Objective 2: Disadvantaged pupils achieve as well as their peers

      • Socio-economic disadvantage

      What we will do

      Target Pupil Premium funding at the barriers our disadvantaged pupils face, especially in writing, and make sure they have the same access to enrichment as everyone else.

      How we will know

      At least 62% of disadvantaged pupils reach the expected standard in writing at the end of Key Stage 2, with the gap to other pupils narrowing each year.

    3. Objective 3: Boys and girls get an equally strong start

      • Sex

      What we will do

      Strengthen early literacy for boys in Nursery and Reception through Drawing Club, handwriting and talk, and challenge gender stereotypes in our curriculum and books.

      How we will know

      The gap between boys and girls achieving a good level of development at the end of Reception is below 15 percentage points.

    4. Objective 4: Every child feels they belong, and prejudice is challenged

      • Race
      • Religion or belief
      • All protected characteristics

      What we will do

      Welcome pupils who are new to English and their families. Keep improving the range of people and cultures in our curriculum and books. Record every prejudice-related incident and report patterns to the Trust Board each term.

      How we will know

      At least 90% of pupils agree that everyone is treated fairly at our school in the annual pupil survey, and every recorded incident is followed up.

    Progress is reviewed every year by the Trust Board and published here each autumn. Next update: autumn 2027. Read our full Equality Policy 2026-27.

    How it all connects

    British values and our work on diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging are two sides of the same promise: that every child at Sparken Hill is respected, included and ready for life in modern Britain. This map shows how they link.

    How British values and our inclusion work connect Democracy links to belonging and inclusion. The rule of law links to equity. Individual liberty links to diversity and belonging. Mutual respect links to inclusion and belonging. Tolerance links to diversity. All of it rests on the Equality Act 2010 and its nine protected characteristics. You are here British values Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, Belonging Democracy The rule of law Individual liberty Mutual respect Tolerance of beliefs Diversity Inclusion Equity Belonging The foundation for both: the Equality Act 2010 and its 9 protected characteristics

    Each line shows where a British value is lived out through our inclusion work. Read more on our British Values and Protected Characteristics page, linked at the bottom.

    Support for families

    Community Team

    Support with a wide range of issues, from parenting courses to wellbeing sessions.

    Text Karen: 07540 686381

    Special educational needs

    Our SENCOs are always happy to talk. Please contact the school office to arrange a conversation.

    01909 534060

    Pupil Premium

    Find out how we use this funding to remove barriers for disadvantaged pupils.

    Our Pupil Premium strategy

    Find out more

    Cookie Policy