This field records the sexual orientation of the member of staff, on the basis of their own self-assessment

Mandatory for providers in England and Wales, optional for providers in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Sexual orientation is recorded on the basis of the member of staff's own self-assessment.

Guidance question: Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation?

Staff should be presented with this question every year.

Definitions:

Valid entry code 98 – staff member doesn’t want to declare the information.

Valid entry code 99 – the provider is not able to get this data in order to send it to HESA.

Advance HE has a number of resources relating to gathering information across the protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010. If a provider has any further queries regarding equality monitoring, please view https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/.