Equality and Diversity

Curriculum Area and Level

Subject: Business
Level: KS4 (Year 11)
Qualification: GCSE Business (aligned with UK curriculum standards)

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this 90-minute lesson, students will be able to:

• Explain how organisational policies on equality and diversity translate into day-to-day workplace activities.
• Describe their own responsibilities in promoting equality and diversity.
• Identify and model behaviours that support equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

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Lesson Structure (90 Minutes)

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – "Diversity in the Workplace" Discussion

• Display images of a diverse range of employees working in different industries (e.g. healthcare, corporate offices, retail).
• Ask students:
  • "What do you notice about the people in these workplaces?"
  • "Do you think everyone here is treated fairly?"
  • "What challenges might employees from different backgrounds face?"
• Encourage students to reflect on their own experiences and perceptions of equality and diversity.

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Section 1 (20 minutes) – Understanding Organisational Policies

Activity: Policy Breakdown

• Provide students with summarised versions of real UK workplace policies on equality and diversity (e.g. policies from the NHS, Tesco, or a government department).
• Students will work in pairs to highlight key principles and discuss how these policies impact daily workplace activities.
• Class discussion on examples from well-known businesses:
  • How do companies implement policies in recruitment, training, promotions, and general workplace culture?
  • Examples of companies excelling in diversity (e.g. John Lewis, BBC) and those that have faced diversity-related controversies.

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Section 2 (25 minutes) – Personal Responsibilities in the Workplace

Activity: "You’re the Manager" Roleplay

• Each student is assigned the role of a new manager in a fictional company. They are given realistic workplace scenarios involving issues of equality and diversity (e.g. a colleague facing discrimination, an employee with a disability seeking adjustments).
• They must decide and present how they would handle the scenario in line with workplace policies.
• Guided class reflection:
  • How easy was it to make the right decision?
  • What challenges might arise when enforcing equality and diversity principles?
  • What would happen if businesses ignored these issues?

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Section 3 (25 minutes) – Modelling Inclusive Behaviour

Activity: Equality and Diversity Challenge Board

• Place five challenge cards on the board, each describing a behaviour that fosters an inclusive workplace (e.g. "Encouraging open discussions about cultural differences", "Challenging inappropriate comments", "Recognising unconscious bias").
• Each student picks a card and explains how they would put this behaviour into practice in their future workplace.
• Encourage students to think about their future careers and industries of interest—what challenges and opportunities exist around equality and diversity in those fields?

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Plenary (10 minutes) - Reflect & Apply

Reflection Questions:

• "What was the most surprising thing you learned today?"
• "If you were starting a business, what policies would you put in place to promote equality and diversity?"
• "What small actions can you take in your daily life to encourage inclusivity?"

Exit Ticket:
Students must write one specific action they will take to promote inclusivity, which they will hand in before leaving the classroom.

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Assessment & Differentiation

Assessment Methods:

• Verbal responses during discussions.
• Demonstration of knowledge in roleplay scenarios.
• Written responses on exit tickets.

Differentiation Strategies:

• Stretch & Challenge: Encourage high-ability students to research and discuss case studies of workplace diversity lawsuits and how organisations responded.
• Support: Pair weaker students with confident peers for roleplay; provide key vocabulary lists for policy analysis.

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Resources Needed

• Printed copies of equality and diversity policies
• Workplace scenario roleplay cards
• Challenge board with engaging prompts
• Whiteboard and markers for discussion points

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Teacher Reflection

• How engaged were students in the roleplay activity?
• Did students demonstrate understanding via their challenge board responses?
• Were misconceptions about equality and diversity addressed effectively?

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This lesson plan ensures active student participation while embedding business curriculum objectives into real-world applications, fostering a responsible and inclusive mindset for future workplace success. 🎯