Accessibility

The College’s premises are accessible to all users, and the College works hard to continue to improve its facilities. The College will adjust the timetable to ensure that all candidates successful at audition can benefit from the training in premises that meet their needs. The College’s Access and Inclusion Committee monitors accessibility in all its forms. An independent organisation undertakes an annual Health and Safety check, and the College’s Health and Safety Committee monitors premises regularly.

The diversity of the student body

The pictures displayed on this website and in the Prospectus show the broad mix of students that study at Bird College. The following statistics show this diversity by number (the figures refer to the students on the Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre programme):

Students commencing in September 2007

Total number of applications:	263
Total number awards accepted:	41 (16 male; 25 female)
Total number of applicants with a disability:	21
Number of applicants with a disability that accepted an award:	6

Ethnicity of all NDPMT students at the College, June 2007: 91% White origin; 4% Mixed origin; 4% Black origin; 2% Asian origin.

Access Policy

The College recognises that many of its students, visitors and staff, whether disabled or otherwise, have individual needs when using College and facilities. However, we also recognise that for some students, the nature of their disabilities may mean that they experience specific difficulties related to accessing education, and the physical environment. As part of the ongoing commitment to the delivery of an inclusive educational service, we will endeavour to ensure that disabled students receive the same standards of education as non disabled students.
In the light of this the College will:

• Inform all staff that our policy for the provision of educational services ensures the inclusion of disabled students. Such communications will address the legal obligation of staff, and the College.
• Provide appropriate disability awareness training for staff, which will explain the College policy towards disabled students and the effective implementation and monitoring of it.
• Address acts of disability discrimination via existing conduct codes, where appropriate.
• Encourage suppliers and contractors, to adopt similar policies towards disabled students.

In order to ensure that the educational services it provides effectively meet the needs of disabled students the College will:

• Consult with disabled students, parents, staff and disability organisations.
• Plan to make access improvements to enable disabled people to use its services. Furthermore, the College will effectively communicate their availability to both students and staff.
• Regularly review whether its education (and other) services are both accessible and effective, and take appropriate action.
• Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of this policy on a regular basis.
• Operate an accessible complaints procedure whereby disabled people can make improvement suggestions and request assistance.

Equal Opportunities

Bird College promotes the concept of Equal Opportunities for all. We recognise the need to counteract ideas and instances of individual and institutional discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability. We seek to provide a learning environment which dispels ignorance and prejudice, promoting Equal Opportunities by:

a) adopting the use of inclusive language;
b) examining teaching materials within Departments;
c) challenging inappropriate remarks to or about an individual or group;
d) valuing the role of all members of the College and encouraging them to participate and lead in all College activities;
e) considering the practicality, where necessary, of adapting premises and equipment and providing special aids for the disabled;
f) stressing the need for all members of the College to listen to each other as part of a sound work ethic;
g) promoting positive views of all members of the wider community.

All students are selected without regard to race or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation. Age and disability are disregarded providing they can successfully complete a physically demanding specialised dance training course of three year’s duration, followed by reasonable expectations of a professional performance career in dance. In cases where this is not thought to be possible the College will seek to guide the applicant towards an appropriate alternative.
The policy will be monitored and will be reviewed annually.

All members of the College are required to observe and comply with this policy.
Any instances of harassment will be dealt with seriously. It will be investigated under the College’s disciplinary or grievance procedures.