Canterbury College is committed to ensuring that all members of the college community are treated with dignity and respect.
This Single Equality Scheme focuses on the entitlement of its staff members to a working environment free from harassment, discrimination and victimisation. It is an expectation that all staff will work towards the elimination of discrimination and will promote equality.
In accordance with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 (specific duties) Regulations 2011, the College has considered, set and published the following equality objectives:
- Equality objective one - To make the College more representative of the local working age distribution by increasing the percentages of staff in the 16-24 and 65+ age ranges by 4% and 3% respectively by 31 December 2012
- Equality objective two – To address the gender imbalances between types of employment contract by making full-time contracts more accessible to female staff using various means such that there is a shift from male to female staff on full-time contracts of 5% by 31 December 2012
During January 2013, the College will assess whether it has met these objectives and the findings will be published. At that time the equality objectives will be updated and new ones will be added and published.
Under the general Equality Duty [section 149 of the Equality Act 2010] colleges have a legal duty to have due regard for the need to:
- Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation
- Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it
- Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it
The College monitors and publishes information on diversity and equality with regard to its staff. The latest information is set out in the Staff equality data May 2011. During the course of the Summer Term, this summary of information will be updated and published.
The College sets out its policy on equality and diversity in relation to its workforce within a Staff Single Equality Scheme and this also sets out an action plan for actively promoting equality and diversity within the workforce.
This scheme is set, implemented and monitored by the College’s Equality and Diversity Committee. The committee’s members are drawn from different areas and staff grades and the committee is able to draw upon its own members’ differing backgrounds, life choices and abilities.
The policy is developed and updated in consultation with College staff and in particular with those members of staff who are considered, or consider themselves to have differing ethnic backgrounds, abilities or lifestyles.
The overall responsibility for the policy and its monitoring remains with the Corporation.
The College also operates a student Single Equality Scheme.
