Commitment to equality

published:30 Sep 2009

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has said that the equality and diversity section of the Code ‘is a very comprehensive and inclusive approach and goes further than any equality and diversity standards placed on teachers to date’.

The Code sets out a teacher’s duty to treat all pupils, parents and colleagues fairly, whatever their background, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief. This is in line with equalities legislation and confirms a teacher’s responsibility to understand and support school policies in this area and to help pupils appreciate and understand differing perspectives and views. 

The Code has been amended to ensure that it was couched in terms of what teachers do, not what they think; as a regulator we cannot regulate against beliefs, only what they actually do.