Equality, diversity and inclusion at RADA

RADA is committed to promoting equality and diversity, to pursuing non-discriminatory policies and practice and eliminating unfair discrimination on grounds of age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, change of gender, religion or belief, class, nationality, colour, ethnic origin, political belief, disability including special needs or length or type of contract (e.g. part-time or fixed-term). This is underpinned by the provisions of the single Equality Act 2010.

RADA undertakes and promotes equality and diversity in recruitment and interviews and in employment, ensuring all staff have rights and responsibilities in relation to the promotion of equality. These rights and responsibilities come from RADA’s legal duties in promoting equality.

In fulfilling RADA’s commitment to its policy, RADA will communicate to all staff RADA’s Equality and Diversity Policy, informing them of their responsibilities in promoting and maintaining equality.

RADA ensures all employees are made aware that they have a personal responsibility to create and maintain an environment in which the individual is respected and each employee is accountable for their own behaviour.

RADA will not tolerate any acts of discrimination or harassment by staff or students, whether they are carried out intentionally or not, and will deal with such acts under its relevant disciplinary procedures.

At RADA we believe all our community - our students, graduates, staff, Council members and visitors - have the right to study, work and live in an environment free from all prejudice and abuse. The Academy considers all forms of diversity a positive and enriching experience to be celebrated. We are therefore committed to a strict zero tolerance policy on any discrimination, harassment or bullying regarding sexual conduct, race, sex, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, beliefs and socio-economic background.

We actively uphold the right of every individual and group within our community to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe everyone should be treated equitably. This means we fully support and encourage anyone who is experiencing/has experienced, or has witnessed, any form of discrimination, harassment or bullying to come forward and tell us and to receive support and advice; no act is considered too small to be addressed. Additionally, we promote in-house training to ensure staff and students are confident on how reporting works and how to seek support.

We take all such allegations seriously and will investigate thoroughly to ensure any such behaviour is challenged and that any appropriate actions are taken, which may include suspension, withdrawal, and dismissal, in order to ensure the security and comfort of our community and their environment.

We are openly committed to creating a secure, welcoming, and friendly environment, free from all racism, sexism, sexual misconduct, violence, bullying, and any form of sexual, physical, verbal or emotional abuse.

RADA's Race Equity policy is available to download here.

A review of the curriculum was included in the key strategic priorities as a means by which to improve and incorporate Global Majority knowledge into the curriculum. A review process of the core accredited programmes began in September 2022. The initial research phase of this review was led by the Director of Equity to ensure that Anti-Racism and equity were an integral part of the review process thinking.

The anti-racism work was led by the Director of Equity, in close consultation with RADA’s Principal and Vice Principal. Every area of activity across the academy is represented by one of the twelve Anti-Racism leads. The leads were selected for their ability to initiate change within the organisation, as well as their ability to embed RADA’s Anti-Racism agenda across the academy. The leads attended regular monthly meetings, shared their knowledge, raised their concerns, and discussed ways in which they could disseminate best practice.

During autumn 2022, the Director of Equity, the Registrar, and the Head of HR, worked together to refine Anti-Racism and equity training delivery. From this work they created a suite of induction level training programmes. The induction training programmes have been designed to ensure that all incoming students, and new staff are aware of RADA’s commitments, and what is expected of them to uphold and sustain those commitments. In addition to the induction training, it is expected that more specific, bespoke training will be arranged by the leads responsible for the various areas of activity across the academy. This bespoke training will be guided by the needs of the particular areas of activity.

The Director of Equity worked closely with the Head of HR to scrutinise the staff recruitment processes. There is now a clearer understanding of what those processes have been historically, and what processes need to be in place to ensure that high levels of equity in staff recruitment are met and maintained. In the coming academic year, this work will continue with the Registrar and Deputy Registrar (of Admissions) in order to refocus attention on the student recruitment processes. The main aim of the staff and student recruitment updates is to increase access to the best talent.

Increasing the positive experiences of RADA staff and students is a key aspect of RADA’s Anti-Racism activities, and this is a priority in the coming academic year.