From the Teacher Support Network, www.teachersupport.info.

TACKLING DISCRIMINATION IN SCHOOLS

News emerged this week that staff members in a boarding school in Wales have won their fight for equal pension rights.

The BBC reported that part-time, female workers had claimed that they were the victims of sexual discrimination after being denied access to Haberdashers’ Monmouth School’s pension scheme.

More than £150,000 will now be paid out by the two Haberdashers’ schools after a settlement just days before their tribunal hearing.

The school’s chair of governors denied that they deliberated excluded the employees from the scheme but said that a settlement was preferential to an expensive, drawn out process.

In this case, all 27 claimants are non-teaching staff members. Nevertheless, we know from the thousands of calls we receive every year that discrimination is a problem that continues to affect teachers in schools across the UK.

Prejudice comes in many forms. Gender, age, race and sexuality can all form the basis of discrimination in schools, despite laws intended to prevent it. On top of illegality and injustice, the various ways in which discrimination can manifest itself can also cause severe emotional turmoil.

It is important that decision-makers in schools are well versed in legislation against discrimination and that all staff members contribute to a culture of tolerance, awareness and openness.

Remember our coaches and counsellors are on hand to give emotional and practical support to anyone who feels they are experiencing discrimination. You can call our free, confidential Support Lines on 08000 562 561 (England), 0800 564 2270 (Scotland) or 08000 855 088 (Wales).

On top of this, the following factsheets may be of interest:

• Sex Discrimination – what are your rights?

• Age Discrimination – what are is the legislation?

• What to do if you think you’re facing unlawful discrimination

• HIV and AIDS discrimination in the work place

• The Disability Discrimination Act – implementation in education