Public Sector Equality Duty

What is the Public Sector Equality Duty?

The single Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) came into effect in April 2011 as a result of the Equality Act 2010. It requires public bodies to promote equality and replaced three pre-existing duties relating to disability, race and gender equality.

The PSED applies to all maintained and independent schools, including academies, and maintained and non-maintained special schools.

Protected Characteristics

The Department for Education (DfE) has published non-statutory advice that sets out schools' obligations under the PSED.

Paragraph 5.1 explains that the PSED extends to the following protected characteristics:

• Race, disability, sex, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment 

Three Main Elements

Paragraph 5.1 of the document explains that the PSED has three main elements. In carrying out their functions, public bodies are required to have due regard to the need to: 

• Eliminate discrimination and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act 2010
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
• Foster good relations across all characteristics, and between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

Due Regard

Paragraph 5.4 of the DfE's advice says that 'due regard' has been defined in case law and means giving "relevant and proportionate consideration to the duty".

For schools, this means:

• Decision makers must be aware of the duty to have due regard when making a decision or taking an action, and must assess whether it may have implications for people with particular protected characteristics
• Schools should consider equality implications before and at the time that they develop policy and take decisions, not as an afterthought, and they need to keep them under review on a continuing basis
• The PSED has to be integrated into the carrying out of the school’s functions, and the analysis necessary to comply with the duty has to be carried out seriously, rigorously and with an open mind

Specific Duties

The PSED introduces secondary legislation in the form of specific duties. The duties require schools to: 

• Publish information to demonstrate how they are complying with the PSED. This information must include, in particular, information relating to people who share a protected characteristic
• Prepare and publish equality objectives

Schools are required to update this published information at least annually and to publish objectives at least once every four years.

What does our school do to eliminate discrimination?

At Uffington Church of England Primary School, our vision and values guide our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where discrimination has no place. We expect all staff members to conduct themselves in a manner that is free from discrimination and to be vigilant in avoiding actions that could be perceived as such by our community.

We maintain current and ratified policies that clearly communicate our zero-tolerance stance on discrimination. These include our staff code of conduct, positive behaviour policy, anti-bullying policy, safeguarding measures, and child protection protocols.

Recognising our legal obligations, we are dedicated to making reasonable adjustments to eliminate barriers faced by individuals with disabilities, as outlined in one of our equalities objectives.

Our governing body and school leaders are committed to ensuring that all aspects of employment—such as recruitment, promotion, training opportunities, pay and benefits, disciplinary actions, and redundancy selection—are free from unlawful discrimination. This commitment is further reinforced by another of our equalities objectives.

We actively promote discussions around equality through a structured PSHE curriculum, assemblies, workshops, and educational visits. These initiatives help instil the British Values and our school values, ensuring that our pupils understand and embody the principles of equality and respect.

Ways we improve equality of opportunity and involve individuals affected by inequality:

1. Regular Review of Policies

   • Conduct regular reviews of all relevant policies (e.g., behaviour, anti-bullying, recruitment) to ensure they promote equality and eliminate discrimination.

2. Staff Training

   • Provide ongoing training for staff on the Equality Act and best practises for promoting equality and inclusion within the school.

3. Reasonable Adjustments

   • Implement reasonable adjustments for pupils with disabilities to ensure they can fully participate in all school activities.

4. Data Analysis and Monitoring

   • Regularly analyse attainment data and other relevant information to identify any disparities among pupils with different characteristics, and take action to address these.

5. Equality Objectives

   • Set specific, measurable equality objectives based on data analysis to target areas for improvement, such as increasing participation in extracurricular activities among underrepresented groups.

6. Inclusive Curriculum

   • Ensure the curriculum reflects a diverse range of perspectives and cultures, promoting understanding and respect among all pupils.

7. Engagement with Stakeholders

   • Actively engage with parents, pupils, and community members affected by inequality to gather feedback and inform school policies and practises.

8. Promotion of British Values

   • Embed British Values, such as tolerance and respect, within the school’s ethos and daily practises to foster good relations among pupils of different backgrounds.

9. Support for Vulnerable Groups

   • Develop targeted support programmes for vulnerable groups, such as those experiencing bullying or those from minority backgrounds, to enhance their school experience.

10. Monitoring and Reporting

    • Establish a system for monitoring incidents of discrimination and bullying, ensuring that these are reported and addressed promptly.

equality policy and objectives nov 24.pdf