Promoting the Nine Protected Characteristics.

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain is protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have. Under the Equality Act, there are nine protected characteristics. 

1. Age

2. Disability

3. Gender reassignment

4. Race

5. Religion or belief

6. Marriage or civil partnership

7. Sex

8. Sexual orientation

9. Pregnancy and maternity

Under the Equality Act you are protected from discrimination:

• When you are in the workplace
• When you use public services like healthcare or education
• When you use businesses and other organisations that provide services and goods
• When you use transport
• When you join a club or association
• When you have contact with public bodies like your local council or government departments

The nine protected characteristics are actively promoted in school through: 

• Our school ethos statement of Following in the Footsteps of Jesus
• Our school curriculum Education in Virtue
• Collective Worship
• Our school behaviour policy
• Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
• Active engagement and communication with parents and caregivers
• British Values
• Discussion within curriculum subjects, taking a cross-curricular approach
• Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary
• Religious Education (RE) lessons
• Relationship, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum days
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) curriculum days
• Charity work through our Minnie Vinnie representatives and church/school community
• Sports, art and cultural events and themed weeks
• Pupil voice through our school council
• Educational visits and workshops within the school
• Real-life learning outside of the classroom
• Developing links with local, national and international communities
• Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs and volunteering within the local community

Embedding protected characteristics into the whole school ethos of St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School promotes: 

• An understanding that the freedom to choose and practice a faith or belief is protected in law
• An acceptance that other people have different faiths or beliefs from oneself, should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
• Promoting self-esteem, self-knowledge and self-confidence
• Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process
• Acceptance of responsibility for their own behaviour
• Respect for their own and other cultures
• Understanding of how they can contribute positively to school and home life and to the lives of those living and working in the locality and further afield
• An understanding of equality, human rights and protected characteristics
• An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
• An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their well-being and safety
• An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination