1. Mainstreaming Equality
Borders College Perspective
Liz McIntyre
4 June 2014

2. Equalities Act 2010 – Public Sector Equality Duties
General Equality Duty: to have regard to the need to:
Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct that is prohibited by the Equality Act 2010
Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not,
Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

3. Equalities Act 2010 – Public Sector Equality Duties
Specific duties:
Mainstreaming – to work to make the general duty integral to our functions
Publish equality outcomes and report progress in meeting them

4. Our Role as Educators Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty
"Over a long period of time, the main force in favour of greater equality has been the diffusion of knowledge and skills."

5. Borders College Equality Outcomes
Learners from all backgrounds achieve high levels of success
Learners are treated with dignity and respect and their views help shape and improve our services
Learners are prepared for life, work and to be responsible citizens

6. Borders College Equality Outcomes
Staff feel valued and have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills and to progress in their careers
The college community is at least representative of the local community and offers a model of good practice in the promotion of opportunities for individuals with protected characteristics
Users of our facilities and services can access them easily

7. Still on the journey
“Not all those who wander are lost” J.R.R. Tolkien

8. Learners from all backgrounds achieve high levels of success
Case Study – Student M
Individual aspirations of the student and her family and employer
Lack of understanding by staff of what could be achieved and of what our obligations were in relation to making reasonable adjustments
Assumptions being made
Confusion over what constitutes “reasonable”
The need for creative thinking and individual solutions worked out in partnership with M’s wider circle of supporters.

9. Learners are treated with dignity and respect and their views help shape and improve our services
Faculty Councils
Chaired and shaped by learners
Empowering – leading to college wide campaigns and changes to the curriculum
Education Scotland example of excellent practice.

10. Users of our facilities and services can access them easily
Admissions Process
Doing away with “first come first served”
Places decided at admission boards
Independent appeals process
Education Scotland – excellent practice

11. Mainstreaming is at the heart of what being a college means
“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible” Maya Angelou