The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in schools

Last reviewed on 21 March 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 6099

All schools are required to comply with the PSED. Understand what that means and see what information you need to publish.

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Contents

  1. There are 3 main elements under the PSED
  2. You must publish equality information and objectives
  3. Equality information: what to publish
  4. Equality objectives: what to publish 

There are 3 main elements under the PSED

You're 'required to have due regard to the need to':

  • Eliminate discrimination and other prohibited conduct
  • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who don't
  • Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who don't

This is explained in chapter 5 of the DfE’s advice for schools. 

Having 'due regard' means something specific in legal terms

In practice, it means:

  • Demonstrating awareness of your duties under the Act by assessing the impact any decision or action will have on people with protected characteristics
  • Considering any equality implications when developing and approving policies and reviewing them regularly with equality in mind
  • Carrying out these analyses seriously, rigorously and with an open mind. It must be more than a box-ticking exercise
  • Doing this yourself, as a school - you can’t delegate the responsibility to anyone else

You must publish

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