Equality and Human Rights Commission

This section looks at equality and discrimination in education from the perspective of education providers. It looks at who counts as an education provider, their areas of responsibility, what the law says and summarises what education providers can do to promote equality of opportunity and tackle discrimination.

On this site, the term 'education providers' means not only schools, colleges and universities but also training and work-based learning providers. The laws set out here also apply to local authority education departments (or education authorities in Scotland).

Read guidance based on current law:

• What is the definition of an education provider?
• Dealing with discrimination and harassment
• Providing access to effective education
  • Admission
  • Discipline in schools
  • Accessibility and support
• Fair treatment when in education
  • Equal opportunities
  • Religion and belief
  • Dealing with discrimination and harassment
  • Dealing with bullying
  • School uniform
• Tackling discrimination and promoting equality
  • Are independent or private schools subject to these duties?
  • Additional action to promote equality in education and training
• Other sources of help
• Maintaining standards: promoting disability equality (Report on the former DRC's Formal Investigation into the barriers disabled people face when trying to pursue careers in teaching, nursing and social work across Great Britain)