The National Discussion on Education 2023 report includes this Call to Action:
Inclusivity and Diversity
Learning about and appreciating the diversity of people and places is important and needs to be reflected in curriculum, teaching and learning resources, and represented in the education workforce.Safe and inclusive cultures that nurture respectful relationships and address discrimination and harassment are imperative.
All Learners in Scotland Matter: The National Discussion on Education,
May 2023
The GTCS and Education Scotland also place a clear emphasis on the importance of ensuring inclusion of all. In working toward this, it is important to consider intersectionality – that is where an individual or group may have lived experience within several of the characteristics.
The GTCS says
Your commitment to GTC Scotland’s professional values of integrity, trust and respect, and social justice, should be demonstrated in your day-to-day behaviours and actions. Teachers should be positive role models and demonstrate welcoming, encouraging and inclusive behaviours to ensure that everyone they encounter feels valued and is treated with respect. In doing so, teachers align with the expectations of the Equality Act 2010 and the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009, which set out the legal requirements to protect people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and for the provision of additional support for learning
adapted from Equality and Diversity: A guide for teachers. GTCS (2021)
At the heart of the GTCS Professional Standards at all levels is
a commitment to the professional values of social justice, trust and respect, and integrity.
These values are at the core of what is required to be a teacher and what it means to achieve equality and diversity.
Education Scotland explicitly reference equality, inclusion and the protected characteristics within HGIOS and HGIOELC.
HGIOS 3.1 ‘A clear focus on ensuring wellbeing entitlements and protected characteristics supports all learners to maximise their successes and achievements’.
HGIOS 2.2 ‘Our curriculum is grounded in our commitment to securing children’s rights and wellbeing.’
HGIOELC 3.1: ‘Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion’
HGIOELC 2.2: ‘Learning Teaching and Assessment.’
