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Education: Equality

Asked by Mike WoodConservativeDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 18 June 2026UIN 9022

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the new socio-economic duty will apply to (a) LEA schools, (b) academies, (c) further education colleagues, (d) universities and (e) the Office for Students.

Answered by Georgia Gould

The Socio-Economic Duty (SED) will embed consideration of socio-economic disadvantage into public sector decision-making. It will require specified public authorities to have due regard to how their strategic decisions can reduce inequalities of outcomes associated with socio-economic disadvantage.

The department is continuing to work with the Office for Equality and Opportunity, as part of the process, and are working with listed public bodies to ensure the guidance supports them effectively.

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