We value, promote and celebrate inclusion, challenge discrimination, and put belonging at the heart of everything we do. Our objectives help us remain vigilant − to value, promote and celebrate inclusion, challenge discrimination, and keep belonging at the heart of everything we do. Each objective is underpinned by a clear action. We report on progress against these each year.

Equality objectives

Nurture high aspirations

Nurture high aspirations and ensure all students are supported to achieve their true potential by identifying and overcoming barriers, particularly for under-represented groups.

Action: teams are working hard to achieve the relevant Access and Participation Plan (APP) objectives.

Foster an environment where everyone is treated with dignity

Engage proactively in fostering an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and combating discrimination.

Actions:

• mandatory #NeverOK Active Respect training for staff and students improved and relaunched in August 2025
• we are developing a person-centred, values based informal employee relations framework to enhance positive behaviour when dealing with complaints, concerns and conflict

Make our environment accessible

Seek to make our environment accessible, leading to a more inclusive environment where all members of our community can thrive.

Action: we have identified areas for improvement across our Estate to address key issues and gaps in provision which limit accessibility for our community.

Foster a culture of inclusion

Foster a culture of inclusion by building institutional confidence through our contributions to charters and awards.

Actions:

• we are continuing to advance our gender equality through Athena SWAN initiatives, achieving our first Departmental Gold in February 2025. We’re awaiting outcomes on four Departmental applications that submitted for upgrades in 2025
• in September 2025, we were awarded an institutional Race Equality Charter Bronze award
• in 2023, we renewed our commitment as a Disability Confident Leader
• we have successfully renewed our University of Sanctuary award in 2024
• we were awarded a Mental Health Charter status in October 2024

Ensure all staff feel welcomed and supported

Ensure all staff feel welcomed and supported by identifying barriers and putting remedial actions in place.

Actions:

• we are committed to reviewing equality of pay for under-represented groups, as well as continuing to reduce the gender pay gap
• we are committed to supporting staff returning from maternity leave or shared paternity leave via the Returning Parents Support Fund