What is the Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED)?

The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies to promote equality.  The relevant protected characteristics are:

- age

- disability

- gender reassignment

- race

- religion or belief

- sex

- sexual orientation

Legislation and Guidance

This document meets the requirements under the following legislation:

- The Equality Act 2010, which introduces the public sector equality duty and protects people from discrimination

- The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011, which requires schools to publish information to demonstrate how they are complying with the public sector equality duty and to publish equality objectives.

This document is also based on Department for Education (DfE) guidance: The Equality Act 2010 and Schools.

The Equality Act 2010:

The general equality duty is contained in S149 of the Act and requires schools to have “due regard” to the need to:

- eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act;

- advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not, and

- foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.