Equity and inclusion
At LPW, equity and inclusion are at the core of who we are. We believe every young person has the right to flourish, regardless of their background, identity or circumstance.
We reject deficit ideology the belief that a pupil’s culture, community or lived experience is a barrier to overcome. Instead, we view lived experience as a source of strength, knowledge and creativity. Our role as educators is to recognise, value and build upon these strengths to unlock each learner’s potential.
We also take an intersectional approach to equity. We recognise that students’ identities and experiences are shaped by multiple factors such as race, gender, class, disability, sexuality, and faith. These intersecting identities can create both opportunities and barriers, and our duty is to address these complexities with care, respect and understanding.
“At LPW, we believe the triangle of trust is key to supporting young people who can choose their own key staff. ”
“There’s a lot of members of staff that can help you, calm you down if you’re stressed out.” ”
Our commitment to equity and inclusion can be seen in our work in addressing social injustice is not tokenistic or symbolic, it informs our curriculum, our staff training, our policies and our daily practice. We work hard to create a school community where:
All voices are heard and respected.
Discrimination, prejudice and racism are actively challenged.
Diversity is celebrated as a strength.
Lessons and support systems are designed around students’ real lives and needs.
Families and communities are partners in shaping change.
At LPW, equity and inclusion are not add-ons. They are central to our vision of a school where every young person belongs, feels valued, and is supported to thrive.
LPW School is committed to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all learners, irrespective of their background or needs. This includes:
· tailoring provision for learners with SEND and SEMH (social, emotional and mental health) needs
· reducing barriers for those from disadvantaged or low-income families
· promoting diversity and representation in all aspects of the curriculum and staffing body.
We do this by offering practical support with food banks, food vouchers and funds for clothing. All students receive a free school meal on site and have access to a free breakfast. We pay for all elements of the school, so no one feels left out. Our school uniform is free.
We have a SENCO and SENCO assistant on site to support us, and we work with local authorities to ensure students have educational psychologist reports in place where needed. We work with families to understand diagnoses of
neurodevelopmental variations and where required we provide support with Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Conners assessments (for ADHD) and speech and language therapy (SALT) assessments. We initiate Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments where needed and ensure all learners have appropriate exam access arrangements in place. We have a diverse staff team who represent our communities. We seek to employ and work with people with relevant lived experience who often able to form close and relative relationships with YP. We strive to be an anti-racist school, adopting the Halo hair code, providing a multi-faith reflective space and a Halal-inclusive kitchen. This work to understand and respond to the needs of marginalised communities is ongoing.