Diversity, Inclusion and Equality Policy

⚠️ LEGAL / HR CONTENT — REQUIRES REVIEW BY AFS AND ITS COUNSEL — protected grounds and employment-law framing must be defined under Bahraini law before adoption.

(Staff- and employment-facing policy. The file name keeps the source slug bsb_equality_diversity_and_inclusion_policy so the PDF↔MD pairing stays obvious. Students' educational entitlement is covered by the companion Educational Equal Opportunities Policy, AFS-POL-12.)

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Audience & Scope
3. Summary
4. Expectation
5. Approach
6. Status of this Policy

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Al Fajer Private School (AFS) is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equality.

2.0 Audience & Scope

2.1 This policy statement applies to all permanent and temporary employees, agents, and contractors. It is intended to complement statutory protection under Bahraini law and the school's local policies and, for the avoidance of doubt, statutory rights will not be affected in any way by this policy.

3.0 Summary

3.1 AFS believes that inclusiveness, diversity, and equality are fundamental to helping students leave AFS with a love of learning, confidence, and a firm value system that arms them to embrace the challenges life throws at them in their future endeavors. We know that this is underpinned by having a team of talented and diverse staff, and we strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel empowered and supported and are able to bring their talents, skills, backgrounds, and experiences to their roles with dignity and respect, irrespective of their cultures, backgrounds, or beliefs. Every member of the AFS community is entitled to dignity and fair treatment.

4.0 Expectation

4.1 We expect everyone within AFS to personally understand and recognize the importance of diversity, inclusion, and equality and to work together as a team to ensure we implement a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination of any form. This means not discriminating against any member of our community on the grounds of [NEEDS AFS INPUT: protected grounds to be defined with AFS's counsel under Bahraini law — the two source policies list conflicting grounds], and taking accountability and responsibility for ensuring that if anyone sees any instance in contradiction of this, they take appropriate steps to intervene and to report it. Whatever list of grounds is adopted, the school's commitment is unchanged: every member of the community is treated with dignity and fairness.

4.2 Everyone who works within or in partnership with AFS in any capacity commits to ensure they are working with this in mind at all times and actively promoting an inclusive, diverse, and equal environment.

5.0 Approach

5.1 AFS is committed to developing its approach to diversity, inclusion, and equality in pursuit of an ever more progressive and inclusive environment for staff and students. Much of our activity is focused on a well-rounded and balanced education for our students; for our staff, our activities include:

5.1.1 Every leader being accountable for upholding the school's leadership and conduct expectations (see Staff Code of Conduct Policy) and ensuring that colleagues in their teams have access to the right resources and opportunities to embed a culture of inclusivity;

5.1.2 Creating forums for colleagues to feed into diversity-and-inclusion practices and help to build solutions applicable across the school;

5.1.3 Only partnering with external recruitment firms who can ensure a diverse pool of candidates is reached and who commit to maintaining equivalently high standards of diversity best practice;

5.1.4 Having robust recruitment processes for all staff appointments, run transparently and fairly so that beliefs, backgrounds, or bias play no part in any selection decision [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS safer-recruitment procedures — the source cites a "Safer Recruitment Guidelines" document that is not in the current AFS policy set];

5.1.5 Annually reviewing the level of diversity of the school leadership team and taking appropriate action where required to ensure a strong and healthy talent pipeline for senior leadership roles;

5.1.6 Ensuring that all advertisements for prospective candidates make it clear that AFS is an active proponent of equality and diversity and actively welcomes individual differences;

5.1.7 With the school leadership team, regularly reviewing the school's policies and procedures in support of this policy, including but not limited to: employee data collection; colleague feedback; legal requirements under Bahraini law; communication and training;

5.1.8 Having in place performance-management processes that are transparent and fair and use clear objectives for all roles;

5.1.9 Providing access to diversity training for staff and for those with HR responsibilities, ensuring they have the right level of skill to apply to their roles and decisions [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS staff-training provider];

5.1.10 Making reasonable adjustments to accommodate a new or existing colleague, or anyone else we work with, who has a pre-existing disability or develops one while working with us;

5.1.11 Maintaining a Whistleblowing Policy and a confidential reporting channel [NEEDS AFS INPUT: reporting channel] to allow colleagues in any role to raise concerns regarding serious malpractice related to the treatment of staff, students, or themselves on topics related to diversity or equality, where they feel for whatever reason the issues cannot be raised with school management. These issues will be investigated;

5.1.12 Always following through on our expectation that all colleagues deserve, and should demonstrate, mutual respect to one another, helping to build a diverse, inclusive, and equal culture, whereby any breach of this expectation — whether behavior, actions, or words that transgress the policy — will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in line with the school's disciplinary procedures, which could lead to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS disciplinary/grievance procedures — an HR disciplinary policy is not in the current AFS policy set].

6.0 Status of this Policy

6.1 This policy is not part of any contract of employment and does not create contractual rights or obligations. It may be amended by AFS at any time. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm this employment-law framing with AFS's counsel under Bahraini law]

6.2 If you require guidance or support with the details of this policy or compliance with it, or are unsure on any part of the policy, please contact the Principal and/or [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS HR lead].