Equality and Diversity 

At Woodside, we see the differences between people as enriching society and something to be celebrated. We are committed to treating everyone fairly and hold any discrimination, bullying or exclusion of a person for any reason to be abhorrent and unacceptable. Our commitment to this has been established in our vision statement and outlined in our Equality and Diversity Policy. We are also working to overcome any barriers to learning that any particular group may have and have a range of interventions in place for this purpose.

Woodside was the lead school in the first Holocaust Memorial Day event held at Thameside Theatre, our Steel Band has played at Tilbury Cruise Terminal for the Windrush 70 event at other occasions throughout the borough, and our Gamelan groups at Thurrock Music festival and Thurrock International Celebration of Culture. We have ensured all staff are trained to recognise and report indications of extremism as part of the government's Prevent strategy.

Disability and Accessibility

Woodside Academy is committed to equality of opportunity, and we have installed a number of facilities for disabled children and adults. There is a disabled space in the car park. If you are disabled and need to come to school for some reason, please contact the school office, and we will try to make special arrangements for you. There are two disabled toilets with showers; one in the main corridor for the general use of any disabled children, staff or visitors and one located in the nursery for use by younger children, plus disabled toilets in our mobile classroom blocks and extension.

Other than the upstairs classrooms, the site is on one level and there are no raised steps to any of the entrances. Our extension provides a lift to give access to the first floor, providing access to all the upstairs rooms. There are no steps into the school.

We have had a number of children with hearing loss and, where necessary, their teachers use dedicated sound reinforcement systems. 

• Accessibility Plan 2022-25
• Equality and Diversity Policy 2025-26
• Equality Objectives 2023-26

Woodside Academy has a firm commitment to equality written into its vision statement, continually seeking to ensure equality and fairness for everyone and celebrating diversity. This means individuals with the characteristics specified by the 2010 Equality Act of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity are protected through the school's policies and working practices.