Protected Characteristics at St. John's

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.

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:

Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Race - including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
Religion or belief
Marriage or civil partnership
Sex
Sexual orientation
Pregnancy and maternity

No form of discrimination is tolerated at St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School and our pupils show respect for those who share the protected characteristics.

We do not teach about all the protected characteristics in every year group. The curriculum is planned and delivered so that our pupils develop age appropriate knowledge and understanding during their time at St John’s.

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:

Actively promote the Gospel values whilst remaining inclusive
We Are All Saints… Children’s Charter
Picture News
Sign Language sessions - EYFS
Books and resources
Science Planning
World Religions units
International Women's Day
Mardi Gras
Day of the Dead
Ten Ten - Black Lives Matter
CAFOD
TEN: TEN Assemblies – thematic

Promoting the rights of each individual as outlined in the United Nations Charter through our RRS award, ethos, policies and curriculum content

Promote tolerance, mutual respect and understanding through different aspects of our curriculum- this includes teaching in RE, PSHE and other subjects. In English, a variety of text from a range of cultures will be used. Scientists, historians, artists, poets, engineers and designers who represent the protected characteristics will be embedded within the curriculum
Picture News (see separate overview)
Leading on assemblies to explore and deal with relevant issues; including CAFOD assemblies/workshops to support Catholic social teaching
Fundraising for local charities i.e. Cornerstones, SIFA Fireside
Fundraising and charitable giving - CAFOD
Supporting all staff and children to recognise and reach their potential - CPD, leadership
Interventions to maximise the progress of all groups of children - on-going monitoring and adaptions to best meet need
Encouraging and target children who have a particular character to participate fully in all activities - for example; enrichment clubs and sport provision at lunchtimes
Curriculum trips that meet the needs of all children
Conscious modelling by all adults in school
Planned and bespoke Curriculum
Restorative justice / peer mediators - supporting any tensions between different groups of pupils within the school
Child and Family Support Worker
Pupil participation in school activities such as the School Council, Social Action Team etc.

Embedding Protected Characteristics into the whole ethos of St John’s promotes:

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 wellbeing and safety
An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
An acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination