In R. (on the application of Interim Executive Board of X) v OFSTED the High Court was asked to decide whether a school that segregated pupils by gender was guilty of sex discrimination under the Equality Act. The court’s decision makes good reading for employers, who are under a similar duty not to discriminate.
The High Court said the school had not directly discriminated against its pupils. Since the girls and the boys were both denied the opportunity to interact with one another, neither group was treated less favourably than the other.
It may sound simple, but this decision provides welcome confirmation to employers that treating male and female staff differently will not be direct sex discrimination, unless one group is treated less favourably than the other as a result.