Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy for Students

ELC Bristol is proud to welcome students of many different nationalities, ages, faiths and backgrounds. Respect, equality and inclusion are at the core of what we do as a school.

We actively encourage respect for diversity and an openness and understanding of people’s difference. We recognise that discrimination and bullying are unacceptable and we ensure that nobody is treated less favourably due to their age, race, religion or belief, disability, gender/gender reassignment, sexual orientation or maternity. We are committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our students as well as among our staff and to eliminating unlawful discrimination.

The aim is for our student body to be truly representative of all sections of society and for each student and employee to feel respected and able to give their best. Students are accepted at ELC due to their suitability to follow our courses, staff are recruited based on their skills and aptitude to perform their job, and everybody is treated with equality and fairness at the school.

The school - in providing its services and in dealing with many external organisations - is also committed against unlawful discrimination of customers or the public.

Our policy’s purpose

This policy’s purpose is to:

  1. Provide equality, fairness and respect for all members of the ELC Bristol community, whether a student or member of staff, whether temporary, part-time or full-time
  2. Not unlawfully discriminate because of the Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics of:
  • age
  • disability
  • gender reassignment
  • marriage and civil partnership
  • pregnancy and maternity
  • race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin)
  • religion or belief
  • sex
  • sexual orientation

The school’s ethos

We believe in treating everybody as individuals and in having respect for all our students. We also actively encourage our students to follow our ethos, which we explain in the Welcome Talk and also in all our dealings with our students. We want all our students to feel happy, cared for and respected. To help our students to do the same, we encourage and expect our students to do the following while at the school:

  • Respect all students, staff and visitors at the school, whatever their sex, age, race, nationality, religion, political opinion, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, sexual orientation or marital/partnership status.
  • Speak English at all times when inside the school building, in the garden or on the school’s social programme or other organised activities.
  • Mix as much as possible with people from different countries and not just spend time with students from their own country or who speak the same first language.
  • Not discriminate or engage in bullying or sexual harassment of any sort.
  • Understand that other students may have questions or misunderstandings about your culture, religion or background. Help them to learn about your culture and background by sharing information and ideas while thinking carefully about other people’s background and respecting that they may have opinions and experiences very different from your own. The focus is on tolerance, being open-minded and having respect for difference.

Inclusion

ADMISSIONS

We make every attempt to accept all students who are suitable to follow our courses when we have space within the appropriate class for them.

Disability
We consider the needs of disabled people and make reasonable adjustments where possible to meet the needs of disabled members of staff or clients according to the limitations of our premises.

Visual and hearing impairment, special educational needs
Our teachers do not hold specific qualifications in teaching students with special learning, visual or hearing needs but we are always sensitive to these needs and able to make appropriate arrangements. We ask all students entering for an exam if they have learning needs such as dyslexia and will make arrangements with the exam board.

Loneliness and homesickness
All employees are trained to recognise and respond to the emotional well-being of our students. We have named members of our staff who also act as Welfare Officers and we also have a member of staff responsible for mental health within the school.

Mental health
We are aware that students may experience difficulties or mental health issues during their stay and may need help. When this comes to our attention, we will do our best to support them. We have a trained Mental Health First Aider at school. If necessary, we will liaise with the student's family, agent or sponsor and will support them to access more specialist help where needed.

If you hear or see anything that you feel is discriminatory or disrespects anyone’s individual characteristics, please immediately speak to your teacher or another member of staff. Serious misconduct because of discrimination may result in you being asked to leave the school. Please see our Disciplinary Procedures for Students policy for further details.

The school has a separate Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy applicable to staff who work at the school, which is contained in the College’s Employee Handbook.