What is Disability Equality and how does the
Equality Act impact on schools?
Under the Equality Act there is a requirement for public sector bodies, including schools, to promote equality for disabled people in every aspect of their work. Schools are required to take actions and write policies which positively promote disability. On this page you can read documents showing our response to these duties.
The Equality Act 2010 introduced a single Public Sector Equality Duty (sometimes also referred to as the ‘general duty’) that applies to public bodies, including maintained schools and Academies, and which extends to all protected characteristics – race, disability, sex, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment. This combined equality duty came into effect in April 2011. It has three main elements. In carrying out their functions, public bodies are required to have due regard to the need to:
What are the specific duties?
The specific duties require schools:
Accessibility Plans
Schools are required to have PSED Accessibility Plans showing how they are planning strategically to increase access over time; the same duties as previously existed under the DDA and have been replicated in the Equality Act 2010. The plan must show how the school is:
The HT and SENDCO feedback to the GB about the Equality Duty in each HT Report to Governors. Our most recent Equality Duty Policy and Action Plan were reviewed in July 2024 (we are required to create a new plan at least once every 4 years).