Protected Characteristics
Throughout the year, students will be learning about the UK’s 2010 Equality Act in their CARE lessons, their PD sessions and throughout the curriculum as part of our wider British Values work. If you visit the school, you will see the poster above in the corridors and classrooms that outline the various
characteristics protected under the Act, and we wanted to take this opportunity to explain them a little more and how they fit into our core values and school curriculum.
The Equality Act aims to promote equality and prevent discrimination in various areas of life, including education and employment, and in today's diverse and interconnected world, the principle of inclusion is more important than ever. Recognising and respecting these protected characteristics is essential for building a more inclusive and equitable society where all individuals can participate fully without fear of prejudice, and we take any instances of discrimination based on the protected characteristics very seriously within school. The Equality Act plays a pivotal role in promoting inclusivity by safeguarding certain protected characteristics, and as a foundation upon which a more equitable and harmonious society can be built. These characteristics, which encompass age, disability, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender reassignment and sexual orientation, ensure that individuals are not discriminated against on the basis of these inherent traits.
Inclusion benefits both society and our school community in countless ways. It fosters creativity, encourages diverse perspectives, and promotes social cohesion and togetherness. When everyone feels valued and respected, our school as a whole thrives. Inclusion is not merely a buzzword, it's a fundamental value that underpins both a fair and just society and our core school values of STEER: through responsibility, all members of the school community are accountable for safeguarding these protected characteristics, treating everyone with respect and dignity; by engaging with the British Values shared within the curriculum, all students are able to enjoy their learning and share a sense of inclusive togetherness that strengthens the culture of our diverse school.