Federation of Holy Trinity and Little Marlow

The 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 FEDERATION DO TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION?

We have set  clear visions and values which expect all our staff to act in a non-discriminating manner and be mindful to avoid actions that will be deemed as such to the public and our wider community.

We have up-to-date and ratified policies which set out a clear message that discrimination is not tolerated: staff code of conduct, behaviour, anti-bullying, safeguarding and child protection.

We understand that it is unlawful to fail to make reasonable adjustments to overcome barriers to using services caused by disability and one of our equalities objectives addresses this.

The governing body and school leaders involved in recruitment will avoid unlawful discrimination in all aspects of employment including recruitment, promotion, opportunities for training, pay and benefits, discipline and selection for redundancy. Another one of our equalities objectives addresses this.

Through a structured PSHE curriculums, collective worships, events and visits, equalities will be discussed with and taught to the children, exemplifying the British Values and individual school values that we believe in.

WAYS WE IMPROVE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND INVOLVE INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY INEQUALITY:

Checklist for all Staff and Governors

• Information collected on race, disability and gender with regards to both pupils and staff e.g. pupil achievement, attendance, exclusions, staff training? This information is used to inform the policies, plans and strategies, lessons, additional support, training and activities the federation provides.
• Our Equality Plan been shaped by the views, input and involvement of staff, parents and pupils.
• Pupil achievement analysed by race, disability and gender. Where trends or patterns in the data is identified, action istaken to address them.
• The schools curriculums include opportunities to understand the issues related to race, disability and gender.
• Are all pupils encouraged to participate in federation life. Pupils are reflective of the federation's diversity e.g. through collective worship/school councils/activities etc.
• Bullying and harassment of pupils and staff is not tollerated but when it occurs is monitored by race, disability and gender, and this information used to ensure a difference to the experience of other pupils. Any racist incidents are reported to the governing body.
• Our visual displays are reflective of the diversity of the federation community. We endeavour to ensure that  minority ethnic, disabled and both male and female role models promoted positively in lessons, displays and discussions such as circle time and collective worship.  
• The schools environments as accessible as possible to pupils, staff and visitors.
• Events which parents, carers and the community attend are held in an accessible parts of the schools, and issues such as language barriers are considered.   
• The accessibility needs of parents, pupils and staff are considered in the publishing and sending out of information, in terms of race disability and gender.
• Procedures for the election of parent governors are open to candidates and voters including those with protected characteristics.