School Equality and Human Rights Compliance Policy

This policy applies to [school name] to the extent that the relevant duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998 apply to the school and its activities. The Public Sector Equality Duty is included where it is relevant to the school.

Purpose and scope

The school will use this policy to organise its arrangements for complying with the applicable Equality Act 2010 and Human Rights Act 1998 duties. It will apply the policy to relevant school activities and, where applicable, to the school's public-sector functions.

The policy is intended to support the school in providing an education and operating arrangements that comply with the legal duties applicable to it. Its application will reflect the school's legal status, activities and relevant public-sector functions.

Responsibilities

The policy owner, [policy owner role], is responsible for coordinating its implementation, identifying the duties that apply to the school and ensuring that relevant responsibilities are communicated.

[school leadership role] is responsible for embedding the applicable requirements in relevant school activities and for ensuring that decisions and arrangements within their area take account of this policy.

[responsible body role] is responsible for maintaining oversight of the school's arrangements under this policy, subject to the school's legal status and governance arrangements.

All staff and other persons acting on behalf of the school must follow the arrangements communicated under this policy when carrying out relevant school activities.

Application in school activities

The school will consider the applicable Equality Act 2010 and Human Rights Act 1998 duties when planning, delivering and reviewing relevant activities. Where the Public Sector Equality Duty applies, the school will include it in that consideration.

Those responsible for an activity must identify whether the activity engages any applicable duty and must escalate questions about its application to [policy owner role] or [school leadership role].

The school will ensure that relevant decisions, arrangements and actions are made consistently with the duties that apply to the institution and its activities.

Records and inspection readiness

The school will retain records that demonstrate how it has applied the applicable Equality Act 2010 and Human Rights Act 1998 duties, including Public Sector Equality Duty records where relevant. Records will be held in [compliance evidence location].

Records must be sufficiently clear and accessible to support the school in providing evidence of compliance for inspection. The school will determine which records are appropriate in light of its legal status, activities and relevant public-sector functions.

Questions and escalation

Questions about whether a duty applies, or how it should be reflected in a school activity, must be referred to [policy owner role]. Matters that cannot be resolved at that level must be referred to [school leadership role] and, where appropriate, [responsible body role].

Status and application

This policy is to be read alongside the school's other relevant arrangements. It does not extend the legal duties that apply to the school beyond those arising from its legal status, activities and relevant public-sector functions.