“Promoting community cohesion means working towards a society in which there is a common vision and sense of belonging by all communities; a society in which the diversity of people’s backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and valued, a society in which similar life opportunities are available to all; a society in which strong and positive relationships exist and continue to be developed in the wider community”. [Alan Johnson, 2006]
At St Joseph’s, community cohesion and equality of opportunity underpin all our policies, practice and decision making, whether these are linked to our pupils, staff, the wider community or the delivery of the curriculum.St Joseph’s contributes towards community cohesion in the following ways:
- Through Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to develop understanding, awareness, respect and tolerance towards others. It promotes common values and encourages pupils to value diversity and develop the skills of participation and responsible action.
- Through Equity and Excellence Regular assessment and progress meetings aim to ensure that all children have equality of opportunity and that potential barriers to access and participation are removed. To ensure equality of opportunity we monitor attainment and achievement through a range of factors such as gender, ethnicity, free school meals and special educational needs.
- Through Engagement and Ethos We provide a means for children, young people and their families to interact with people from different backgrounds and build positive relations, including links with different schools and communities locally, across the country and internationally.