Equal Opportunities

The syllabus is designed to be of equal validity to both boys and girls, and to pupils from all ethnic/cultural backgrounds.

In developing teaching strategies, the following areas should be checked in the matter of equal opportunity:

1. the allocation of teaching time between boys and girls, for instance, in questions and answers, discussions, presentations and readings etc.
2. the organisation of the classroom in terms of seating arrangements, whose material is displayed, use of resources and so on.
3. in the matter of standards of behaviour and attainment there should be an equality of expectation. There should be no bias in the giving of praise or reprimand.
4. gender-stereotyped language should be avoided
5. text books, tapes, videos and so on should be monitored carefully to ensure that similar standards obtain.
6. examinations and tests should be free from gender bias.
7. reports and records often involve value judgements. It is important to ensure that there is an equality of expectation when one is thinking of behaviour and ability. Similar words and phrases must be available for use with both sexes.
8. there is no requirement for a commitment to any particular faith, nor the suggestion that one set of cultural values is in any way inferior or superior to any other.