Equality and Diversity
Leeds College of Music values social and cultural diversity and aims to ensure that you have a positive experience whilst studying with us.
The Equality Act 2010 replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act. It simplified the law, removing inconsistencies and making it easier for people to understand and comply with it. It also strengthened the law in important ways, to help tackle discrimination and inequality.
The public sector Equality Duty (section 149 of the Act) came into force on 5th April 2011. The Equality Duty applies to all public bodies and others carrying out public functions. It supports good decision- making by ensuring public bodies consider how different people will be affected by their activities, helping them to deliver policies and services which are efficient; accessible to all; and which meet different people’s needs.
The Equality Duty is supported by specific duties, set out in regulations which came into force on 10 September 2011 requiring public bodies to publish relevant, proportionate information demonstrating their compliance with the Equality Duty; and to set themselves specific, measurable equality objectives. This means the information must show they had due regard to the need to:
- eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act;
- advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it;
- foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
The equality characteristics (sometimes referred to as protected characteristics) set out in the Equality Act 2010 are:
Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Marriage and civil partnership (but only in respect of eliminating unlawful discrimination)
Pregnancy and maternity
Race – this includes ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality
Religion or belief – this includes lack of belief
Sex
Sexual orientation
Download a copy of our Equality and Diversity Policy statement here
Download more information on our legal duties here
Download more information on staff related equality and diversity statistics and commentary 2010-2011 here
Download more information on student related equality and diversity statistics and commentary 2010-2011 here
Download a copy of our Single Equality Scheme (SES) Action Plan 2011-2013 here
Download a copy of our specific objectives we are currently concentrating on here
Download a list of useful links here
