Duff Miller is mindful of its’ duty not to treat a disabled pupil, or prospective pupil, less favourable for a reason related to his or her disability than someone to whom that reason does not apply, without justification for doing so. We commit to make reasonable adjustments to admission arrangements in relation to education and associated services to ensure that disabled pupils or prospective pupils are not placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with non-disabled pupils.
The Building
Duff Miller is sited at 59 Queen’s Gate in Central London. It was built in approximately 1850 and is a listed building. The property consists of a basement and four upper floors, all linked by a central staircase. There was formally a service lift linking the floors but, this is now not in operation with the lift shaft being sealed on the advice of the local Fire Prevention Officer. The ground floor consists of three rooms, a reception room, the Principals’ office and a staff room. There are no teaching rooms on the ground floor. Access from the street is via a short flight of stone steps.
Admissions Procedure
The admissions procedure at Duff Miller endeavours to ensure that less favourable treatment is not given for a reason related to a students’ disability. There are certain disabilities - for example, a student who is confined to a wheelchair - where the building does not lend itself to the necessary access to teaching rooms, laboratories or computer rooms. On the other hand, a student with a disability such as epilepsy would be dealt with in a way which would not be a bar to his or her admission to the college.
Accessibility Plan
(a) Improving the physical environment – Although, as stated above, there are practical limitations to the access to the building in Queen’s Gate. Duff Miller does commit to provide those physical aids necessary to ensure that disabled students have equal access to our educational provision. (b) Improving the delivery of information to disabled students – Information provided by the school to its pupils should be made accessible to disabled students – most obviously to those with visual or hearing impairments.
Action Plan
(a) Duff Miller will carry out an audit of how the schools’ current activities comply with the longer-term access requirements to make the school more accessible to disabled pupils. (b) To provide all teaching staff with disability awareness training within two years. (c) In maintenance and refurbishment works, to take into account the needs of disabled students. (d) To continually review our admissions literature, policy, examinations and procedures to ensure that disabled pupils are treated in a fair and equal way.
