Responsible bodies for schools
Further sources of information
Even after a person has left your school you must not discriminate against them or harass or victimise them.
This only applies if the discrimination or harassment arises out of and is closely connected to their previous relationship with you and would have been unlawful if they were still a pupil. For example, if an ex-pupil asks for a reference from the school it would be unlawful for the reference to be unflattering because of a protected characteristic of the ex-pupil, or because they at one time brought or supported a discrimination complaint against the school.
This obligation to former pupils would include the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled former pupils if they continue to be at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to former pupils without a disability. This obligation only applies if the substantial disadvantage arises out of and is closely connected with them having been a pupil.
For example:
A school sends an annual newsletter to former pupils and one former pupil who has a visual impairment requests that it is sent to him by email rather than in hard copy. The school does not provide him with an electronic copy. This is likely to be an unlawful failure to make a reasonable adjustment.
If someone believes that they are being discriminated against after they have stopped studying with you, they can take the same steps to have things put right as if they were still a pupil. These steps are explained in Dispute resolution and enforcement.