The Equality Act 2010 replaced nine major Acts of Parliament and almost a hundred sets of regulations which had been introduced over several decades. It provides a single, consolidated source of discrimination law, covering all the types of discrimination that are unlawful. It simplifies the law by getting rid of anomalies and inconsistencies that had developed over time, and it extends protection against discrimination in certain areas.

The Act makes it unlawful for the responsible body of a provider to discriminate against, harass or victimise a learner or potential learner:

·       in relation to admissions

·       in the way it provides education for pupils

·       in the way it provides pupils access to any benefit, facility or service

·       by excluding a pupil or subjecting them to any other detriment

The “responsible body” is the governing body or the local authority for maintained education provider in England and Wales, the education authority in the case of maintained providers in Scotland, and the proprietor in the case of independent providers, Academies or non-maintained special schools. In practice, any persons acting on behalf of the responsible body – including employees of the provider – are liable for their own discriminatory actions, and the responsible body is also liable unless it can show that it has taken all reasonable steps to stop the individual from doing the discriminatory action or from doing anything of that kind.

The Act deals with the way in which providers treat their pupils and prospective pupils: the relationship between one pupil and another is not within its scope. It does not therefore bear directly on such issues as racist or homophobic bullying by pupils. However, if a school treats bullying which relates to a protected ground less seriously than other forms of bullying – for example dismissing complaints of homophobic bullying or failing to protect a transgender pupil against bullying by classmates – then it may be guilty of unlawful discrimination. 

The law on disability discrimination is different from the rest of the Act in a number of ways. In particular, it works in only one direction – that is to say, it protects disabled people but not people who are not disabled. 

As a disabled person, you have rights to protect you from discrimination. These rights cover most areas including: 

• employment

• education

• dealing with the police

The Equality Act 2010 and the United Nations (UN) Convention on disability rights help to enforce, protect and promote your rights.

Safeguarding is protecting vulnerable adults or children from abuse or neglect. It means making sure people are supported to get good access to health care and stay well. It is wrong if vulnerable people are not treated by professionals with the same respect as others.

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 was described as "a bold and far-reaching piece of legislation" by HSE's first Director General, John Locke. It certainly marked a departure from the framework of prescribed and detailed regulations which was in place at the time. The Act introduced a new system based on less-prescriptive and more goal-based regulations, supported by guidance and codes of practice. For the first time employers and employees were to be consulted and engaged in the process of designing a modern health and safety system. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 also established the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) for the purpose of proposing new regulations, providing information and advice and conducting research. HSC's operating arm, the Health and Safety Executive was formed shortly after in order to enforce health and safety law, a duty shared with Local Authorities.

Although the HSE was established in 1975 its history can be traced back to 1833. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) works with Education stakeholders across GB to ensure that education duty holders are managing any significant risks arising from school activities and from the school premises e.g. meeting the requirements to manage asbestos; slips and trips. The Sector encourages stakeholders to adopt a common sense approach to risk management, making clear that schools are about providing children with a range of valuable learning experiences within which risks should be managed proportionately and sensibly