SOUTH TYNESIDE COLLEGE: GENDER EQUALITY PROJECT

Provider Audit Statements (22 statements in total)

The following audit is designed to measure your current position in relation to gender equality as a training provider for Apprenticeships. Please answer as honestly as you can; you will need to provide some evidence for your response, together with key strengths and weaknesses and finally you will need to grade to what degree you fulfil each statement, using a Red, Amber, Green response.

Please remember that your responses should be in the context of your being a provider for Apprenticeships.

Our policies and procedures reflect our legal obligations and drive improvement with respect to gender equality

  • We are aware of our duties/responsibilities under the Equality Act and have an Equality Policy that puts equality into action in our organisation.
  • We use our Policy to check that what we do in our work with Apprentices complies with the policy and also use it when we plan new Apprenticeship programmes/activities.
  • We have existing examples in our SAR and Improvement Plan of measures and improvements that relate to gender equality.
  • We have rigorous procedures for dealing with complaints relating to discriminative practice.

Our Apprenticeship learner journey is mindful of, and designed to drive, gender equality

  • Our recruitment strategy includes measures to address gender imbalance on Apprenticeship programmes.
  • We set targets to address gender imbalance on Apprenticeship programmes.
  • Apprentice induction programmes address and advance equality and diversity.
  • Our marketing, recruitment and course materials are free from single gender references and gender stereotypical images and content.
  • The content of training/apprenticeship programmes addresses the advancement of gender equality.
  • We hold gender specific recruitment events (e.g. males into healthcare/females into engineering) to address gender imbalance.
  • Gender equality genuinely is embedded in programme content and is not an “add-on”.
  • We understand how well each gender group achieves in each component part of their programme (eg maths, English, ICT)
  • We have a clear action plan to reduce any gender achievement gaps that we identify
  • We understand how well each gender group progresses onto further learning and employment
  • We have a clear action plan to reduce any differences in progression.

We provide Training & Development to our staff and partners in order to ensure that they understand and adopt best practice with regard to quality and diversity, including gender equality.

  • Training is provided to staff to ensure that they understand Equality and Diversity (including their role and responsibilities within it).
  • Our training makes specific reference to gender equality and provides support on how to address gender imbalance.
  • Our training provides staff with the tools required to address gender inequality issues within the Apprenticeship workplace, with their employer.
  • Specific equality training is provided to staff to help eliminate gender bias at the IAG, classroom management, materials development and careers advice stages of course provision.
  • The impact of training and development is measured, to make sure that it is implemented to good effect by our staff and makes a difference to our Apprenticeship programme.
  • Gender equality is advanced across all providers in our delivery partnership and good practice is shared.

Our working environments and practices are not biased towards one gender or the other, expect where required.

  • Pictorial images (e.g. poster biographies) displayed around the organisation serve to advance gender equality and address gender bias.
  • We have a zero tolerance approach to expressions of (gender) prejudice and discrimination.
  • Our employees have a practical awareness of ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ in the context of managing gender diversity.
  • There is no gender bias in the physical environment and both males and females have equal and appropriate access to areas of work and facilities.
  • Gender diversity is celebrated across our organisation (e.g. in course materials/case studies etc)
  • We are confident that neither males nor females will perceive any disadvantage towards their gender within our organisation.