Page 8 - Race Equality in Education Pocket Book

Public Sector Equality Duty

Under the public sector quality duty (PSED) set out in the Equality

Act 2010, organisations such as schools, FE, HE and Skills Providers
must aim to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and

victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.

• Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share

a protected characteristic and those who do not.

• Foster good relations between persons who share a protected

characteristic and those who do not.

Education has long been a key site in the struggle for racial and

ethnic equality in Britain. Seen as both a mechanism for social

mobility and means of cultural integration and reproduction –

schools and schooling lie at the heart of the pursuit of a successful
future for a multi-ethnic Britain (Runnymede, 2015:4).

Improving BAME young people and learners’ experience and

attainment in education has been viewed as a challenge for many

years and continues to be as such. Often students, staff and

institutions find it difficult to see how they can effectively improve
inclusion.

The challenge is to:

• Understand the historical journey of BAME learners

• Take account of the needs of BAME learners

• Draw attention to equality and diversity issues

• Engage all learners – supporting participation, experience and
outcomes.

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