Public Sector Equality Duty Statement of Intent

This statement provides information about how Epworth Education Trust (the Trust) ensures it meets its Specific Duties under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) in relation to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).

The PSED requires the Trust, as a body carrying out public functions, to have due regard to:

Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

These are known as the General Duties of the PSED.

In exercising these duties, the Trust considers the impact of its decisions on pupils, staff, governors, volunteers, parents, carers and the wider communities served by its schools.

Having due regard to the need to advance equality of opportunity is defined further in the Equality Act 2010 as having due regard to the need to:

Remove or minimise disadvantages.
Take steps to meet different needs.
Encourage participation when it is disproportionately low.

The Trust is committed to actively examining current and proposed policies and practices to ensure that they are not discriminatory under the Act.

To comply with the PSED, the Trust will:

Publish information annually to demonstrate how the Trust is complying with the PSED. This information must include, in particular, information relating to people who share a protected characteristic).
Prepare and publish specific and measurable equality objectives at least once every four years (Equality Objectives).
Publish information annually on the gender pay gap of employees, where the Trust employs 250 or more staff (Gender Pay Gap).