Equality and Diversity
No matter what your age, gender, or ethnic background - we welcome everyone! Our student population is extremely diverse; we have students aged between 4 and 84, from a variety of different ethnic and social backgrounds each with different learning styles and needs. We also have a number of students with disabilities.
It is extremely important to us that every student has the opportunity to realise their full potential in an environment free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation.
The College does not discriminate on grounds of race, religion, disability, gender, age, class, nationality, sexual orientation or gender reassignment. This means that:
- Everyone will be treated equally
- You will not suffer from discrimination or harassment at the College
- Course materials and delivery will be unbiased, and will be monitored on an ongoing basis
- All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that a disability does not stop you from taking, or succeeding on, your chosen programme of study
- Your needs will be assessed fairly and any special requirements or adjustments will be taken into account.
- You can have a say in shaping the development of our equality and diversity practice in the future
The rights entitled to every student do carry responsibilities. The College requires every student to act in accordance with these rights and demonstrate the same behaviour to others as they would expect to receive themselves. This environment of mutual respect and understanding is key to our approach towards a fully inclusive community here at the College.
Our staff and students
Plymouth College of Art respects each person who studies or works at the College and treats each and every one as an individual. Under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations, we are legally required to publish anonymised information about our student and staff populations ‘protected characteristics’, in order to help our community understand the profile of the people accessing and working at the College.
We are required to report annually on areas including age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership (in respect of unlawful discrimination - in terms of our employees), pregnancy and maternity, race (including ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality), religion and/or belief, and sexual orientation. Wherever possible, we compare our data with local, regional and national rates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Neighbourhood Statistics, Local Authority reports and the national census – (Currently still 2001).
About our students in the academic year 2011-12
Age mix
69% of students at Plymouth College of Art were aged 19 or over – this reflects our significant Higher Education provision.
Disability
11% of students within our FE community declared disabilities or learning difficulties, as did 21% of HE students. The College supports and welcomes individuals with a wide range of disabilities and learning difficulties.
Gender mix
63% of our students were female, and 37% male.
Gender Reassignment
The College’s current enrolment process does not capture this protected characteristic, we will work to carefully address this. However our student support records indicate that less than 10 students present this characteristic.
Pregnancy and maternity
The College has clear guidelines on identifying and monitoring pregnant students to ensure that their needs are safely met during studies but has yet to track actual numbers of students in this characteristic.
Race profile
The ethnic profile of our students closely matched the regional population, with a slightly lower representation of black and Chinese students. The College continues to be active in promoting its courses to these minority groups.
Religion and Belief
77% of our students did not indicate that they had a religion or belief. For those who did respond every major world religion is well represented within the College when compared to local, regional and national statistics with the exception of Christians. The College needs to work to more effectively access information from students who prefer not to give a religion of belief.
Sexual orientation
For those students comfortable to indicate their sexual orientation it is clear that the College has a slightly higher than UK average (0.4% difference), gay, lesbian and bisexual population. We need to do more to carefully encourage students to openly declare their sexual preference.
About our staff in the academic year 2011-12
Age mix
Whilst the College has a relatively young staff profile, with 29% of all staff aged 20 – 29, Human Resources data shows that individuals aged between 29 and 64 are represented within the staff population
Disability
3% of College staff declared themselves to have a disability. The College is committed to making all reasonable adjustments to accommodate staff with declared disabilities. According to the Shaw Trust 20% of people working in the UK have a recognised disability but may not declare it.
The Further Education College Workforce Data for England 2009-2010 by Lifelong Learning UK indicates that in 2009-2010, 3.2 per cent of all further education staff and 3.1 per cent of teaching staff in England disclosed having a disability. The College maintains its ‘Two Ticks’ Positive about Disability accreditation.
Gender mix
65% of college staff are female, and 35% male. This closely mirrors the typical gender mix found in colleges across the UK where there is an overall 63% female to 37% male mix.
Recruitment processes ensure protected characteristics are removed from applications when short listing potential new staff for interview.
Gender Reassignment
Currently the College does not capture data from staff on gender reassignment. This will be worked on to help staff in this protected characteristic.
Marriage and civil partnership
Currently the College does not capture marital status of all staff and ensures it provides the same befits for all staff. This will be worked on to help staff in this protected characteristic.
Pregnancy and maternity
The College has clear guidelines on identifying, supporting and monitoring pregnant staff and mothers.
Race profile
The ethnic mix of College staff exceeds the local community mix, in all groups except Chinese and Asian
Religion and Belief
Currently the College does not capture data from staff on religion and belief. This will be worked on to help staff in this protected characteristic.
Sexual orientation
Currently the College does not capture data from staff on sexual orientation. This will be worked on to help staff in this protected characteristic.
Other information
The College has a range of guidelines that ensures it makes all reasonable adjustments for staff with this protected characteristic for example workstation support, flexible working arrangements, hearing loops etc.
Pay Gap analysis - The College HR records based on our regular bench-marking analysis and the robust salary scales, which are linked to qualifications and experience indicate that there is no equality pay gap.
The College has a zero tolerance policy to harassment and bullying on any of the protected characteristics covering both students and staff.
Statistics above are shown to the closest full percentile. For further information, or for details on how our statistics are collected, please contact Phil Purse, Associate Director (Quality) at ppurse@plymouthart.ac.uk or on 01752 205 715.
For more information about the Equality Act 2010, and our reporting obligations, see [web link to the Act]