Equality Report for Year 2022-23 (February 2023) Figures taken from the Inspection Data Summary Report (IDSR)Feb 2023 unless otherwise noted
Equality Information 2022-23: Students
Bentley Wood High school is an above average size comprehensive school for girls in Harrow with currently 1424 students between the ages of 11 and 19. The school has a very diverse intake of girls from a large catchment area. The school location deprivation indicator was in quintile 1 (least deprived) of all schools. The pupil base, however, is in quintile 2 (less deprived) of all schools in terms of deprivation.
Free school meals
Currently 24% of students are known to be eligible for free school meals, which is close to average nationally. The progress and achievement of students on free school meals is typically significantly above the national average. The school has a fund to provide financial support for families for items such as uniform, trips and music lessons.
Pupil Premium
As of October 2022, 27% of students were known to be eligible for Pupil Premium. This is in the middle/third quintile nationally. The progress and achievement of students on pupil premium is historically significantly above the national average and published data shows that disadvantaged students’ progress is above national average.
Age
Bentley Wood is currently oversubscribed. The school is expanding; in 2022 there is capacity for 224 students in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 (240 in Y7). In our growing Sixth Form, there are 246 students.
Ethnicity
Bentley Wood welcomes and celebrates having students from all cultures and ethnicities and has a large number of students from minority ethnic groups. Some of our students have refugee status and come from countries such as Kuwait and Afghanistan. In 2023, 61% of our students do not have English as their first language, which is well above the national average. Our students speak a variety of other languages at home. We have 16 out of 17 possible ethnic groups. The current breakdown is as follows (IDSR):
Sex
Bentley Wood is a single-sex girls’ school. Our Sixth Form students attend classes at other collegiate schools which are mixed. We take male students in the 6th Form from the Harrow Collegiate if they apply and meet the requirements.
Disability
To be read in conjunction with the Equality Information and Objectives Policy (which is reviewed only every four years).
In 2022 there are 9% of students with SEND support and 1.6% with an EHC plan, compared to 8.8% and 1% in 2021. Disabilities range from Physical Disabilities to Speech, Language and Communication Needs. All staff are responsible for meeting the needs of these students. The Inclusion team provides a comprehensive ‘Barriers to Learning’ booklet which is shared with every member of staff. Heads of Year keep detailed records of the needs of these students and closely monitor progress of students with disabilities together with Heads of Department, Senior Leaders and Teachers.
There is an accessible disabled toilet available to Students with short or long-term medical needs and there are two lifts, as well as a platform lift, to support students who require additional mobility support.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Reassignment
The school does not collect information on the sexual orientation of students. Were it to be communicated to the school regarding a pupil, it would be recorded in the child’s file and confidentially maintained. No data is collated by the school about gender reassignment.
Religion
All Year groups show a similar religious profile with all major religions represented. There is a Prayer Room made available for students to use during break and lunchtimes and the school canteen caters for many dietary requirements. We have maintained the prayer room through the time of physical distancing with different year groups allocated different time slots. Students all study Philosophy and Religious Studies until Year 11 and this covers all major world religions and promotes cohesion between students of different faiths. Assemblies at different times of the year celebrate many religious festivals.
Marriage and civil partnership
No data is collected or held by the school about parents’/carers’ marital status, apart from the titles and names given for home contacts and information about whether letters home and reports are to be sent to two addresses, unless specifically requested by a parent/carer or student.
Attendance
Students’ attendance is above the national average and is monitored on a weekly basis and analysed in order to target individuals who need support in improving their attendance. Absence for 2021/2022 was 6.2%. Persistent absence was 17.0%, both figures in the lowest 20% of all schools. This is true for in 2018/19, 2017/18 and 2016/17.
Exclusions and incidents
There was no permanent exclusion at Bentley Wood in 2021-22, 1 in 2019/2020, and none in the previous three years. The number of girls who are sanctioned with fixed term exclusions / suspension has been kept low as a result of positive behaviour management strategies, good relationships, and through restorative justice approaches. The percentage of exclusions for different groups of students are in line with national comparisons.
The school records and acts upon all incidents which contravene its Equality Policy. There have been a very small number of incidents where the school’s Equality Policy has been breached by students. Sanctions and restorative sessions have been swift and efficient and have involved parents where appropriate.
Attainment
At Bentley Wood the vast majority of ethnicities perform better than national averages. There were no significantly underachieving ethnic groups in 2022. Students of all ethnicities exceed expectations at KS4. We have high academic expectations of all students, and deliver a curriculum that is broad, balanced and rich, including very high levels of Ebacc entry. According to the IDSR: “The subjects of the EBacc form a strong academic foundation for the key stage 4 curriculum. The EBacc entry rate in this school in 2022 was 97%.’’ The “value added in science (1.4), languages (0.9) and humanities (1.4) was significantly above the national average and in the highest 20% of all schools in 2022.”
Equality objectives 2022-23 – Students (from our Equality Information and Objectives Policy)
The distribution of ethnicities at Bentley Wood is broadly the same for all groups of staff irrespective of pay. There is a diverse range of ethnicities which is consistent for support staff, teaching staff and teaching assistants.
At Bentley Wood there is a male to female ratio of 1 to 4.5 (26 males and 118 females). Staff are paid in relation to job specification, number of days’ employment and level of responsibility regardless of gender and ethnicity. Average pay for male employees is higher than average pay for female employees. This is attributed to having a higher support staff male to female ratio, compared to the teaching staff male to female ratio.
In 2022-23 there are no members of staff that had a physical disability.
Our new application forms ask for optional information about sexual orientation. If successful applicants have completed this, it is recorded on their employee profile on our personnel/payroll providers portal.
The staff includes members of a wide range of religions and beliefs (including no religion or belief). The school’s absence policy allows time-off for major religious observance days for all faiths.
The school complies with its equality duty in this area.
Data is collected about the marital status of members of staff, including the titles and names given on application forms and emergency contacts.
Pregnancy, maternity and paternity
The school operates the council’s policies for maternity leave, paternity leave and flexible working (reduced hours). All pregnant staff have a meeting to assess their individual needs and steps are taken to ensure these are met.
In 2021-22, three people started maternity leave. Four people have started maternity leave during this academic year 2022-23 (there was one period of maternity leave that continued into some part of 2022-23 that had started last year).
In 2021-22 there was no paternity leave taken. There has been one person on paternity leave so far this year.
Training opportunities
The amount of time spent by staff on training activities and CPD are in the same ratio as the proportion to the workforce with regard to Sex and Ethnicity.
Equality Objectives 2022-23 – Workforce (from our Equality Information and Objectives Policy)
