Schools, as a matter of course, do a great deal to promote a positive and welcoming culture and ensure that all children and young people in their care are safe and are supported to fulfil their potential.  There is now a significant amount of legislation relating to equality, ranging from the Sex Discrimination Act  1975 to the Equality Act 2006.  School's, like any other organisation, need to ensure they comply with this legislation.

Please click HERE for a summary of key Equality Legislation.

In most schools, the equalities duties are considered as fundamental to developing the Every Child Matters outcomes and making progress on the Children's Plan.  Effective equalities work also strengthens schools' ability to raise standards and meet their wider organisational and national policy requirements on inclusion and personalisation of the curriculum.

Please click HERE to learn more.

To support Cumbrian schools in adopting this new approach, a guide to schools on writing a Single Equality Scheme will be published soon.  In the meantime, the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) has developed an equality impact assessment workbook.  This workbook has been created by the Department's Equality and Diversity Unit (EDU) to help colleagues conduct initial and full equality impact assessments with the minimum of technical difficulty and with the policy rigour that is required.

Please click here to see the DCSF Single Equality Scheme: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/des/index.shtml

For more information on Equality issues in schools, including Disability, Gender, Religion and Sexual orientation please click here: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/equality

For more specific information on Race Equality, including guidance on dealing with Prejudice and Racism, please click on Race Equality on the left hand side.