Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (Modification) Regulations 2024: equality impact assessment

The Scope of the EQIA

This Equality Impact Assessment has assessed the potential impact of the Regulations, by considering whether the evidence we have gathered indicates potentially different impacts upon persons with protected characteristics or whether there is an opportunity to improve equality in an area.

In line with the requirements of the general equality duty, we have considered the need to:

• eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the act;
• advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not; and
• foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.

The following protected characteristics have been considered with the Equality Impact Assessment:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Ethnicity
• Religion or belief

There was limited information available in relation to the following protected characteristics, although we consider these protected characteristics will not prevent access to free school meals due to other eligibility criteria already in place.

• Pregnancy and maternity
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage or civil partnership

There was no stakeholder consultation process since these Regulations were designed to maintain an existing policy, in protecting the eligibility of an existing cohort to free school meals, rather than creating new policy.

Our findings were taken from data provided within the Pupil Census 2023 Supplementary Statistics in relation to age and from the Poverty and Inequality in Scotland Statistics, covering the period from 2020-2023, for all other protected characteristics. Both statistical reports were published during March 2024.