Equality and Diversity

Curriculum Area

Subject: Business Studies
Level: GCSE (Key Stage 4)
Exam Board: Suitable for all UK exam boards, including AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC

Lesson Duration

Total Time: 180 minutes
Class Size: 5 students

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
✅ Define the concept of equality and diversity.
✅ Describe the legal requirements for equality of opportunity in the UK.
✅ Identify and explain the role and powers of organisations responsible for promoting equality.
✅ Discuss the benefits of equality and diversity in the workplace.
✅ Analyse the potential consequences for organisations that fail to comply with equality laws.

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Lesson Overview

This lesson will be interactive and discussion-based, incorporating case studies, role-play activities, and a workplace scenario challenge.

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Lesson Breakdown

Phase 1: Introduction to Equality and Diversity (30 mins)

Starter Activity: Quickfire Discussion (10 mins)

• Write "Equality" and "Diversity" on the board.
• Ask students to brainstorm what these words mean in the business context.
• Capture their thoughts on a mind map.

Teacher-Led Explanation (10 mins)

• Equality: Ensuring individuals and groups are treated fairly and given the same opportunities, regardless of characteristics such as age, gender, race, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Diversity: Recognising, valuing, and respecting differences between people in the workplace.
• Provide real business examples of equality and diversity in UK organisations.

Mini Activity: Role Model Cards (10 mins)

• Provide students with cards featuring diverse business leaders.
• Ask students to discuss any challenges these individuals may have faced and how diversity contributed to their success.

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Phase 2: Legal Requirements for Equality (40 mins)

Teacher Presentation (15 mins) – Key UK Legislation

• Equality Act 2010: Covers discrimination in employment, education, and public services.
• Protected characteristics: Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation.
• Explain how the Act protects employees and businesses.

Activity: Legal Case Study Investigation (25 mins)

• Each student is provided with a short summary of a UK employment law case related to equality.
• In pairs, they discuss:
  1. What went wrong?
  2. How did the Equality Act 2010 apply?
  3. What was the legal outcome?
• Students present their findings to the group.

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Phase 3: Role and Powers of Organisations (35 mins)

Group Research Task (20 mins)

• Assign each student an organisation:
  • Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
  • Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
  • TUC (Trades Union Congress)
  • CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)
  • Government Equalities Office
• Students research and prepare a 2-minute presentation explaining:
  1. What the organisation does
  2. What powers they have
  3. A real-life example of their impact

Class Discussion (15 mins)

• Students present their findings.
• Open discussion: How do these organisations help businesses? Do companies always listen to their advice?

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Phase 4: Benefits of Equality and Diversity (35 mins)

Teacher Explanation (10 mins)

• Increased innovation: Diverse teams lead to fresh ideas.
• Enhanced reputation: Companies that promote equality attract better job applicants and customers.
• Better employee morale: Workers perform better in inclusive environments.

Activity: Business Scenario Challenge (25 mins)

• Present students with a fictional company struggling with diversity issues.
• In pairs, students create a strategy to improve its diversity and equality policies.
• They present their ideas, and the class votes on the best solution.

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Phase 5: Consequences of Failing to Comply (30 mins)

Teacher-Led Discussion (10 mins)

• Discuss real-world examples of UK businesses that faced legal and reputational consequences for failing to promote equality.
• Examples: High-profile discrimination lawsuits, employee strikes, PR disasters.

Activity: Accident Waiting to Happen (20 mins)

• Hand out a fictional employee complaint letter (based on real cases but anonymised).
• Students work together to rewrite company policy in a way that ensures compliance and fair treatment.

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Plenary: Consolidation and Reflection (10 mins)

• Each student shares one key takeaway from the lesson.
• Quick-fire quiz to reinforce understanding.
• Homework task: Write a one-page report explaining why equality and diversity should be prioritised in UK businesses.

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Assessment and Differentiation

• Formative: Observations during discussions, presentations, and activities.
• Summative: End-of-lesson quiz and homework assessment.
• Differentiation:
  • Higher ability: Encourage deeper analysis of case studies.
  • Lower ability: Provide structured templates for tasks.

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Resources

✔ Printed case studies
✔ Role model cards
✔ Employee complaint scenario sheets
✔ PowerPoint slides for key legal concepts

This lesson goes beyond just defining equality and diversity—it actively engages students in critical thinking about how businesses must comply and why these issues are vital to economic and social success.

Teachers will love the hands-on approach, real-world case studies, and interactive discussion format! 🚀