SCIS and the institutions it represents unreservedly support efforts to tackle racism or any other type of discrimination – there is need for positive, meaningful change.
This page provides useful resources for schools, Our statement on Black Lives Matter can be read here.
What is meant by equity, inclusion and diversity?
The Equality and Human Rights Commission in their resources for secondary schools, explain the meaning of equality as, ‘Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents’.
It is also the belief that no one should have poorer life chances because of the way they were born, where they come from, what they believe, or whether they have a disability.
Equality recognises that historically certain groups of people with protected characteristics such as race, disability, sex and sexual orientation have experienced discrimination”.
The Equality Act 2010 sets out the personal characteristics that are protected by the law and the behaviour that is unlawful. Protected characteristics are:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion and belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Inclusion
Inclusion is about the culture you create in school and the workplace – an environment where different people can come, feel comfortable and be themselves. It ensures that everyone feels valued and is able to maximise their potential.
Diversity
Diversity is any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups and people from one another. It is about empowering people by respecting and appreciating what makes them different, in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, education, and national origin.
Useful Resources
Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Guidance on the Equality Act
- Primary education resources
- Secondary education resources
- Public Sector Equality Duty
- Guide to the law in relation to single-sex spaces
Education Scotland
- Education Scotland – Equality Act (2010)
- What equality law means for you as an education provider – Schools
- Technical guidance for schools in Scotland for the Equality Act (2010) regarding discrimination
- How Good is our School? – 3.1 Ensuring Wellbeing, Equality & Inclusion
Scottish Government
- Teaching in a diverse Scotland: increasing and retaining minority ethnic teachers
- Improving Diversity in Education
- Respect for All: The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland's Children & Young People
Embedding race equality in schools - Anti-racism support for staff
A new package of support materials for teachers and staff will embed anti-racism and race equality into all aspects of school life.
- Education Scotland’s Promoting and Developing Race Equality and Anti-Racist Education: An Overview
- Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights Guide to Developing an Anti-Racist Curriculum
- Scotland’s Development Education Centre’s Anti-Racist Toolkit for Teachers
Other resources
- SCIS - Wakelet
- Presentation: Taking an audit and setting the strategy to become an anti-racist institution. Professor Paul Miller, Educational Equity Services
- Business in the Community Race at work Charter
- Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Educators (BAMEed)
- Stephen Lawrence Trust
- The Black Curriculum
- Boarding Schools Association resources page (includes links to organisations and resources)
- Stonewall
- Association of Muslim Schools
- Holocaust Education Trust
- Nil by Mouth
- NAIS - Principles of Good Practice - Equity and Justice
- A Parents Guide to Black Lives Matter
- Not-racist vs anti-racist (BBC Bitesize)
- Diverse Educators
- Weekly webinar - #FastForwardDiversityInclusion
- Colourful Heritage
- Face to Face, Martin Luther King
- Connect Futures
- Create Opportunities for Meaningful Conversations About Race (produced by Apple)