Tackling discrimination and promoting equality

Public authorities, including state education providers, must comply with certain legal responsibilities set out in the following duties:

• The race equality duty
• The disability equality duty
• The gender equality duty

The specific duties placed on schools and institutions of further and higher education differ from the specific duties on other public authorities. There are also differences between the duties for education institutions and authorities in Scotland, and those in England and Wales.

The duties apply to the governing bodies of all maintained schools (community schools, foundation schools, voluntary aided and voluntary controlled schools), city technology colleges, city colleges for the arts, city colleges for technology and city academies.

More information

• Are independent or private schools subject to these duties?
• Additional action to promote equality in education and training