BISMA Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Policy
Introduction
British International Sports Medicine Academy (BISMA) is committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity, and fostering an inclusive learning and working environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
BISMA aims to ensure that access to training, assessment, and learner support is fair, transparent, and free from discrimination or unnecessary barriers. This policy sets out how BISMA meets its responsibilities under equality legislation and good practice.
This policy forms part of the terms under which learners enrol with BISMA.
Scope
This policy applies to all learners and applicants, staff, tutors, assessors, internal quality assurance personnel, contractors, volunteers, and visitors.
It applies to all BISMA delivery models, including face-to-face, blended, and distance or online learning.
Legal Framework
BISMA operates in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, which protects individuals from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.
Under the Equality Act 2010, the following protected characteristics apply:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin)
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Policy Statement
BISMA is committed to providing equal access to learning and assessment opportunities, ensuring fair and objective recruitment, induction, teaching, assessment, and certification practices, preventing discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in all forms, making reasonable adjustments where required to support learners and staff, and promoting an inclusive and respectful learning environment.
Discrimination on the grounds of any protected characteristic will not be tolerated.
Responsibilities
BISMA Management
BISMA management will ensure equality and inclusion principles are embedded in policies, procedures, and practice, monitor the effectiveness of equality arrangements, and take appropriate action where discrimination is identified.
Staff, Tutors, and Contractors
All staff, tutors, and contractors must treat learners and colleagues fairly and respectfully, maintain professional boundaries and inclusive practice, challenge discriminatory behaviour where safe and appropriate, and report concerns in line with BISMA procedures.
Learners
Learners are expected to treat others with dignity and respect, refrain from discriminatory, harassing, or offensive behaviour, and raise concerns where equality issues arise.
Reasonable Adjustments and Inclusive Practice
BISMA will make reasonable adjustments where required to remove barriers for learners with disabilities or specific needs, in line with legislation and awarding organisation requirements.
Adjustments may include adaptations to assessment methods, additional support or time allowances, and accessible learning materials.
Requests for reasonable adjustments will be handled sensitively and confidentially.
Recruitment, Training, and Assessment
BISMA aims to ensure that entry requirements are relevant, justified, and proportionate, assessment decisions are based solely on evidence and competence, and training delivery does not unfairly disadvantage any group.
Any requirement that may limit access will be objectively justified in relation to safety, competence, or regulatory requirements.
Harassment, Bullying, and Discrimination
Harassment, bullying, victimisation, or discrimination of any kind is unacceptable. This includes offensive language or behaviour, exclusion or unfair treatment, intimidation or coercion, and discriminatory assumptions or stereotyping.
Such behaviour may result in disciplinary action under the BISMA Learner Sanctions, Disciplinary & Exclusion Policy or relevant staff procedures.
Raising Concerns and Complaints
Concerns relating to equality, diversity, or inclusion should be raised as early as possible. Informal concerns may be raised directly where appropriate. Formal complaints may be submitted under the BISMA Learner Complaints Policy. Safeguarding-related concerns will be managed under the BISMA Safeguarding Policy.
Complaints will be handled fairly, confidentially, and without victimisation.
Victimisation
No learner or staff member will be treated less favourably for raising a genuine equality or discrimination concern, supporting another person, or participating in an investigation.
Victimisation is itself a breach of this policy and may result in disciplinary action.
Monitoring and Review
BISMA will monitor equality and diversity practices as part of its quality assurance processes, review complaints and feedback to identify trends or improvements, and review this policy annually or sooner if required by legislative or organisational change.
This policy will be made available to regulators and awarding organisations upon request.
