The Equality Act 2010

At Wickhambrook Primary Academy we believe that equality should permeate all aspects of academy life and it is the responsibility of every member of the academy and wider community. Every member of the academy community should feel safe, secure, valued and of equal worth. At Wickhambrook academy, equality is a key principle for treating all people the same.

Under the Equality Act 2010 (Section 149), schools are required to have regard to:

1. Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
2. Advancing equality of opportunity between those who share a protected
   characteristic and those who do not
3. Fostering good relations between those who share a protected characteristic
   e.g. disability, race, religion, belief, gender assignment, sexual orientation,
   pregnancy or maternity, and those who do not.

For us this means:

• Decision makers must be aware of the duty to have due regard when making a decision or taking an action, and must assess whether it may have implications for people with particular protected characteristics
• Schools should consider equality implications before and at the time that they develop policy and take decisions, not as an afterthought, and they need to keep them under review on a continuing basis
• The Public Service Equality Duty (PSED) has to be integrated into the carrying out of the school’s functions, and the analysis necessary to comply with the duty has to be carried out seriously, rigorously and with an open mind

Please take time to read our Equality Objectives document which is available in the attachments section.