Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (repealed)

Education E+W+S

22 Discrimination by bodies in charge of educational establishments. E+W+S

—It is unlawful in relation to an educational establishment falling within column 1 of the following table, for a person indicated in relation to the establishment in column 2 (the “responsible body”) to discriminate against a woman—

(a) in the terms on which it offers to admit her to the establishment as a pupil, or

(b) by refusing or deliberately omitting to accept an application for her admission to the establishment as a pupil, or

(c) where she is a pupil of the establishment—

(i) in the way it affords her access to any benefits, facilities or services, or by refusing or deliberately omitting to afford her access to them, or

(ii) by excluding her from the establishment or subjecting her to any other detriment.

TABLE

Establishment	Responsible body
England and Wales
1. Educational establishment maintained by a local education authority.	Local education authority or [F1 managers or]governors, according to which of them has the function in question.
2. Independent school not being a special school.	Proprietor.
3. Special school not maintained by a local education authority.	Proprietor.
[F2 3A. Grant-maintained school.]	[F2 Governing body.]
4. University.	Governing body.
[F3 4A. Institution within the PCFC funding sector (within the meaning of the Education Act 1944).]	[F3 Governing body.]
5. Establishment (not falling within paragraphs 1 to 4) providing full-time or part-time education, being an establishment designated under section 24(1).	Governing body.
Scotland
6. Educational establishment managed by an education authority.	Education authority.
7. Educational establishment in respect of which the managers are for the time being receiving grants under section [F4 73(c)or(d) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980]	Managers of the educational establishment.
[F5 7A. Self-governing school.]	[F5 Board of management.]
8. University.	Governing body.
9. Independent school.	Proprietor.
10. Any other educational establishment (not falling within paragraphs 6, 7 and 9) providing full or part-time school education or further education.	Managers of the educational establishment.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words repealed (E.W.) by Education Act 1980 (c. 20, SIF 41:1), s. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 27

F2 S. 22 Table para. 3A inserted by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 12 Pt. I para. 15

F3 S. 22 Table para. 4A inserted by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 12 Pt. III para. 72

F4 Words substituted by Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 44, SIF 41:2), Sch. 4 para. 6

F5 S. 22 Table para. 7A inserted (S.) by Self-Governing Schools etc. (Scotland) Act 1989 (c. 39, SIF 41:2), s. 82(1), Sch. 10 para. 5(2)

Yn ddilys o 01/08/1993

[F6 22A Meaning of pupil in section 22. E+W+S

For the purposes of section 22, “pupil” includes, in England and Wales, any person who receives education at a school or institution to which that section applies.]

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 22A inserted (1.8.1993) by Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13), s. 93(1), Sch. 8 Pt. II para.77; S.I. 1992/831, art. 2, Sch.4

23 Other discrimination by local education authorities. E+W+S

(1) It is unlawful for a local education authority, in carrying out such of its functions under [F7 the Education Acts 1944 to 1975][F7 the Education Acts 1944 to 1981]as do not fall under section 22, to do any act which constitutes sex discrimination.

(2) It is unlawful for an education authority, in carrying out such of its functions under [F8 the Education (Scotland) [F9 Act 1980]]as do not fall under section 22, to do any act which constitutes sex discrimination.

Textual Amendments

F7 Words “the Education Acts 1944 to 1981” substituted (E.W.) for the words “the Education Acts 1944 to 1975” by virtue of the Education Act 1981 (c. 60, SIF 41:1), Sch. 3 para. 11

F8 Words substituted by Education Act 1980 (c. 20, SIF 41:1), s. 33(2)

F9 Words substituted (S.) by Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 44), Sch. 4 para. 7

Yn ddilys o 06/05/1992

[F10 23A Discrimination by Further Education and Higher Education Funding Councils E+W+S

It is unlawful for the Further Education Funding Council for England, the Further Education Funding Council for Wales, the Higher Education Funding Council for England or the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales in carrying out their functions under the Education Acts 1944 to 1992, to do any act which constitutes sex discrimination.]

Textual Amendments

F10 S. 23A inserted (6.5.1992) by Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13), s. 93(1), Sch. 8 Pt. II para.78; S.I. 1992/831, art. 2, Sch.1

Yn ddilys o 01/06/1992

[F11 23B Discrimination by Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils. E+W+S

It is unlawful for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council or the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council in carrying out any of their functions to do any act which constitutes sex discrimination.]

Textual Amendments

F11 S. 23B inserted (1.6.1992 so far as relating to Scottish Higher Education Funding Council) by Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 (c. 37), s. 62(2), Sch. 9 para. 4(3); S.I. 1992/817, art. 3(2), Sch. 2

Yn ddilys o 03/10/2005

[F12 23BA Discrimination by Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council E+W+S

It is unlawful for the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council in carrying out any of its functions to do any act which constitutes sex discrimination.]

Textual Amendments

F12 S. 23BA inserted (3.10.2005) by The Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2077), art. 4

Yn ddilys o 01/04/1994

[F13 23C Discrimination by Funding Agency for Schools or Schools Funding Council for Wales. E+W+S

It is unlawful for the Funding Agency for Schools or the Schools Funding Council for Wales in carrying out their functions by or under the Education Acts 1944 to 1993 to do any act which constitutes sex discrimination.]

Textual Amendments

F13 S. 23C inserted (1.4.1994) by 1993 c. 35, s. 307(1), Sch. 19 para.57; S.I. 1994/507, art. 4, Sch. 2 (which insertion fell (1.11.1996) by 1996 c. 56, s. 582(2), Sch. 38 Pt. I)

Yn ddilys o 21/09/1994

[F14 23D Discrimination by Teacher Training Agency. E+W+S

It is unlawful for the Teacher Training Agency in carrying out their functions under Part I of the Education Act 1994 to do any act which constitutes sex discrimination.]

Textual Amendments

F14 S. 23D inserted (21.9.1994) by 1994 c. 30, s. 24, Sch. 2 para. 5(3); S.I. 1994/2204, art. 2

24 Designated establishments. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may by order designate for the purposes of paragraph 5 of the table in section 22 such establishments of the description mentioned in that paragraph as he thinks fit.

(2) An establishment shall not be designated under subsection (1) unless—

(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15

(b) it is an establishment in respect of which grants are payable out of money provided by Parliament, or

(c) it is assisted by a local education authority [F16 for the purposes]of the M1 Education Act 1944, or

(d) it provides full-time education for persons who have attained the upper limit of compulsory school age but not the age of nineteen.

(3) A designation under subsection (1) shall remain in force until revoked notwithstanding that the establishment ceases to be within subsection (2).

Textual Amendments

F15 S. 24(2)(a) repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c.40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 12 Pt. III para. 73(a), Sch. 13 Pt. II

F16 Words substituted by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 12 Pt. III para. 73(b)

Marginal Citations

M1 1944 c. 31.

25 General duty in public sector of education. E+W+S

(1) Without prejudice to its obligation to comply with any other provision of this Act, a body to which this subsection applies shall be under a general duty to secure that facilities for education provided by it, and any ancillary benefits or services, are provided without sex discrimination.

(2) The following provisions of the M2 Education Act 1944, namely—

(a) section 68 (power of Secretary of State to require duties under that Act to be exercised reasonably), and

(b) section 99 (powers of Secretary of State where local education authorities etc. are in default),

shall apply to the performance by a body to which subsection (1) applies of the duties imposed by sections 22 and 23 and shall also apply to the performance of the general duty imposed by subsection (1), as they apply to the performance by a local education authority of a duty imposed by that Act.

(3) Section [F17 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980](power of the Secretary of State to require duties in that Act to be exercised) shall apply to the performance by a body to which subsection (1) applies of the duties imposed by sections 22 and 23 and shall also apply to the performance of the general duty imposed by subsection (1), as the [F17 said section 70]applies to the performance by an education authority of a duty imposed by that Act.

(4) The sanctions in subsections (2) and (3) shall be the only sanctions for breach of the general duty in subsection (1), but without prejudice to the enforcement of sections 22 and 23 under section 66 or otherwise (where the breach is also a contravention of either of those sections).

(5) The Secretary of State shall have the power to cause a local inquiry to be held into any matter arising from subsection (3) under section [F18 67 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.]

(6) Subsection (1) applies to—

(a) local education authorities in England and Wales;

(b) education authorities in Scotland;

(c) any other body which is a responsible body in relation to—

(i) an establishment falling within paragraph 1, 3 [F19 3A][F20 4A][F21 or 7][F21 ,7 or 7A]of the table in section 22;

(ii) an establishment designated under section 24(1) as falling within paragraph . . . F22 (c) of section 24(2);

(iii) an establishment designated under section 24(1) as falling within paragraph (b) of section 24(2) where the grants in question are payable under section 100 of the M3 Education Act 1944.

Textual Amendments

F17 Words substituted by Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 44, SIF 41:2), Sch. 4 para. 8(a)

F18 Words substituted by Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 44, SIF 41:2), Sch. 4 para. 8(b)

F19 “3A”inserted by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 12 Pt. I para. 16

F20 “4A”inserted by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 12 Pt. III para. 74(a)

F21 “, 7 or 7A” substituted (S.) for “or 7” by Self-Governing Schools etc. (Scotland) Act 1989 (c. 39, SIF 41:2), s. 82(1), Sch. 10 para. 5(3)

F22 “(a) or” repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 12 Pt. III para. 74(b), Sch. 13 Pt. II

Marginal Citations

M2 1944 c. 31.

M3 1944 c. 31.

Yn ddilys o 28/07/2000

[F23 25A General duty: post-16 education and training etc. E+W+S

(1) The Learning and Skills Council for England and the National Council for Education and Training for Wales shall be under a general duty to secure that the facilities falling within subsection (2) and any ancillary benefits or services are provided without sex discrimination.

(2) Facilities falling within this subsection are facilities for—

(a) education,

(b) training, and

(c) organised leisure-time occupation connected with such education or training,

the provision of which is secured by the Learning and Skills Council for England or the National Council for Education and Training for Wales.

(3) The provisions of sections 25 and 47 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 shall be the only sanction for breach of the general duty in subsection (1), but without prejudice to the enforcement of section 23A under section 66 or otherwise (where the breach is also a contravention of that section).]

Textual Amendments

F23 S. 25A inserted (28.7.2000 so far as consequential upon ss. 130, 131, Sch. 8 and 1.4.2001 in relation to England and Wales otherwise) by 2000 c. 21, ss. 149, 154, Sch. 9 para. 6; S.I. 2001/654, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. II (with savings and transitional provisions in art. 3); S.I. 2001/1274, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. I (with savings and transitional provisions in art. 3)

26 Exception for single-sex establishments. E+W+S

(1) Sections 22(a) and (b) and 25 do not apply to the admission of pupils to any establishment (a “single-sex establishment”) which admits pupils of one sex only, or which would be taken to admit pupils of one sex only if there were disregarded pupils of the opposite sex—

(a) whose admission is exceptional, or

(b) whose numbers are comparatively small and whose admission is confined to particular courses of instruction or teaching classes.

(2) Where a school which is not a single-sex establishment has some pupils as boarders and others as non-boarders, and admits as boarders pupils of one sex only (or would be taken to admit as boarders pupils of one sex only if there were disregarded boarders of the opposite sex whose numbers are comparatively small), sections 22(a) and (b) and 25 do not apply to the admission of boarders and sections 22(c)(i) and 25 do not apply to boarding facilities.

(3) Where an establishment is a a single-sex establishment by reason of its inclusion in subsection (1)(b), the fact that pupils of one sex are confined to particular courses of instruction or teaching classes shall not be taken to contravene section 22(c)(i) or the duty in section 25.

27 Exception for single-sex establishments turning co-educational. E+W+S

(1) Where at any time—

(a) the responsible body for single-sex establishment falling within column 1 of the table in section 22 determines to alter its admissions arrangements so that the establishment will cease to be a single-sex establishment, or

(b) section 26(2) applies to the admission of boarders to a school falling within column 1 of that table but the responsible body determines to alter its admissions arrangements so that section 26(2) will cease so to apply,

the responsible body may apply in accordance with Schedule 2 for an order (a “transitional exemption order”) authorising discriminatory admissions during the transitional period specified in the order.

(2) Where during the transitional period specified in a transitional exemption order applying to an establishment the responsible body refuses or deliberately omits to accept an application for the admission of a person to the establishment as a pupil the refusal or omission shall not be taken to contravene any provision of this Act.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the refusal or omission contravenes any condition of the transitional exemption order.

(4) Except as mentioned in subsection (2), a transitional exemption order shall not afford any exemption from liability under this Act.

(5) Where, during the period between the making of an application for a transitional exemption order in relation to an establishment and the determination of the application, the responsible body refuses or deliberately omits to accept an application for the admission of a person to the establishment as a pupil the refusal or omission shall not be taken to contravene any provision of this Act.

28 Exception for physical training. E+W+S

Sections 22, 23 and 25 do not apply to any [F24 course in physical education which is a further education course or, in England and Wales, a higher education course within the meaning of the Education Reform Act 1988.]

Textual Amendments

F24 Words substituted by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 12 Pt. III para. 75