School Equality Policy Help

[whatnow41]

Can I ask for some help addressing my DC's Equality policy pls? I have the Safe Schools Alliance template but there are a few phrases I think are problematic and want to word it correctly as to why.

The template perfectly answers sex vs gender. I want to also address gender identity and I think the reference to sexual identity within orientation needs addressing too but I'm not sure. Can I have your thought please?

We aim to make sure that no-one experiences harassment, less favourable treatment or discrimination because of their age; any disability they may have; their ethnicity, colour or national origin; their gender; their gender identity or reassignment; their marital or civil partnership status; being pregnant or having recently had a baby; their religion or beliefs; their sexual identity and orientation.

I think it's definitely wrong that they haven't got sex on this list. As to the rest... it's definitely going beyond what the law requires but maybe in this context it's not necessarily a bad thing?

Eg the Equality Act 2010 does not cover asexualism (which I think is the kind of thing they are getting at with the reference to "sexual identity"), and whilst I'm not sure it's really an identity that needs celebrating at pride etc., I wouldn't want to see someone bullied because of it.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4006198-School-Equalities-policy-gender-instead-of-sex?msgid=99653777

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/4

just two of the tabs I have open to write to kids school.

safeschoolsallianceuk.net/resources-2/letter-templates/

all above taken from threads on here and posted by other posters, just passing them on.

It would be better though if they spelled out what they are legally obliged to protect and what they are seeking to doing as an extras where there is no conflict with their legal obligations to the groups with protected characteristics.

The current wording makes it sound like in a conflict of rights situation all groups should be given equal weight, which would be incorrect.

*Excuse typos by the way!

As the Equalities Governor at a primary school, I went through the policy with a fine tooth comb and made sure they replaced the mealy-mouthed "gender" with "sex" every time it was relevant.

Thanks everyone. I'll start drafting my email!