This is an E-Learning style section. It provides a clear and concise overview of the main general provisions of the Equality Act 2010. (Schools can also use this section with governors and staff to update their knowledge in relation to the new equality-based legislation which came into force on 1st October 2010.

Elements of this section (in particular the interactive quizzes and exercises) are potentially suitable resources for use in the classroom with some pupils.)

This section provides details of the Public Sector Equality Duty and what schools will need to do to comply.  It also discusses the Duty to Promote Community Cohesion and asks school to consider combining their Equality and Community Cohesion work, thus producing a single plan.

This section offers a practical, step-by-step guide on how to go about complying with all elements of the Equality and Community Cohesion Duties.  Schools can download and use this guide with governors, their leadership team and other identified stakeholders in order to assess their current position and produce a plan to address gaps arising.

This section provides a template that schools can use to produce a Single Equality and Community Cohesion Scheme document - this can then be saved, printed and a completed Single Equality and Community Cohesion Scheme document published.

This section offers a full Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) Guide.  It includes a range of practical ideas for schools to consider when choosing the most effective and efficient method(s) for implementing EqIA, as well as a full compliment of template forms.

This section highlights some of the key benefits that can result from effective implementation of the Equality and Community Cohesion Duties.

This section highlights a broad range of information that schools can use to inform the development of their own equality and community cohesion objectives.

This section contains details of a range of useful external sources of further information.

This section provides examples of documents that others have produced.  Schools can also upload their own documents and share them with others.

This section offers the opportunity for schools to ask their own question(s) and gain a personal response.  It also offers the opportunity to view the questions and answers that others have raised in relation to the Duties.

Note:  The Toolkit is available in both CD-ROM and Online formats.  The reason for offering two different formats is simply so that a choice exists for you to choose your own preferred format.  You should be aware that, by its nature, a CD-ROM will contain ‘fixed content’ (i.e. this is the content that is loaded on to the CD disc at a particular point in time), whereas the content of the Online format is regularly updated.  Therefore, as stated throughout all of our literature concerning this publication, we suggest that you opt to use the Online format so that you can be assured you are accessing the most up-to-date version – this is particularly relevant to sections 9 and 10 of this publication which are only available Online because examples of good practice and Frequently Asked Questions are regularly added as they become available.  We recognise that some may prefer to use the CD-ROM format and would note that the CD-ROM also provides a direct link for you to access the Online publication where you have an internet connection.  Should you prefer the CD-ROM format, please be aware that it is designed to run on PC.