Strategies for promoting diversity in your school

There are a number of strategies schools can implement to help turn their policies into practice in trying to eliminate discrimination

Across the UK the non-British population has been estimated to include around 9.5m people and 3.1% of residents over the age of 16 identified as LGBT. For this reason, equality and diversity must be promoted throughout UK schools to encourage an inclusive environment.

According to the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for the responsible body of a school to discriminate against, harass or victimise a pupil or potential pupil:

• in relation to admissions;
• in the way it provides education for pupils;
• in the way it provides pupils’ access to any benefit, facility or service;
• by excluding a pupil, or subjecting them to any other detriment.

The responsible body of your school has a duty to implement policies that promote diversity and are proactive in eliminating discrimination. This is not easy, but there are strategies that can be actively implemented which will help, such as: 

• advancing equal opportunities between pupils who share a relevant protected characteristic, and those who don’t;
• fostering good relationships between those who share a protected characteristic, and those who don’t;
• removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by pupils who share a relevant protected characteristic; 
• taking steps to meet the needs of pupils who share a protected characteristic if their needs are different to those who do not share that characteristic;
• encouraging pupils who share a protected characteristic to participate in public life, or in any other activity in which participation by such persons is disproportionately low, by tackling prejudice and promoting understanding.

Practice your policy 

Here are some suggestions to help your school put its policy into practice to eliminate discrimination.

• Allocate an assigned staff member responsibility for equality issues.
• Implement an action plan which reflects your school community and is frequently monitored.
• Recognise the need for regular teaching and non-teaching staff training.
• Make a whole school commitment to eliminating discrimination and share this with pupils and parents. 
• Make equalities education as important as other curricular areas. 
• Ensure names are spelled and pronounced correctly, and that preferred names are used.
• Develop positive self-identity and self-esteem alongside respect for others, helping all pupils and staff to feel positive about differences. 
• Use resources, books, toys, displays and music which reflect and celebrate diversity. 
• Offer pupils a secure environment in which to explore their own identity and the identity of their peers. 
• Regularly evaluate the outcomes of your equality policy and practice and act on your findings.