Equality

Equality is described as the removal of discrimination, disadvantage, inequality and/or barriers which can affect people on the grounds of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act (2010):

• Age

• Disability

• Sex

• Gender reassignment

• Pregnancy and maternity

• Race

• Religion or belief

• Sexual orientation.

The public sector equality duty also covers marriage and civil partnerships, with regard to eliminating unlawful discrimination in employment. Therefore, schools and education authorities do not have a responsibility as learners are not employees.

The Equality Act (2010) also gives the duty to advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not and to foster good relations between them.