Equality and Diversity Information
Promoting the Protected Characteristics at Kingsley
Our Code of Conduct:
We always try to give everyone a fair chance
We always try to treat each other with respect
We always try to be the best we can
We always try to work together, helping each other
The Equality Act became law in 2010 and it covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. The national curriculum recognises how important it is for children to understand the world in which they live in. They want children to live alongside and show respect for a diverse range of people. A way in which schools can ensure they are providing children with the knowledge and skills to do this is through the teaching of the nine protected characteristics.
At Kingsley, we actively promote these in our curriculum and work to embed them into our ethos of ‘Learning together, respecting each other’.
It is extremely important for us here at Kingsley, that our children grow to be respectful, ambitious and empathetic pupils who respect the world in which they live in.
The 9 protected characteristics are:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
The DfE does stress that not all of these characteristics have to be taught in every year group and schools should use their professional judgement to plan their curriculum appropriately. Here at Kingsley, our PSHE/RSE lessons are taught through the PSHE Association scheme.
Under the Equality Act you are protected from discrimination:
- When you are in the workplace
- When you use public services like healthcare (for example, visiting your doctor or local hospital) or education (for example, at your school or college)
- When you use businesses and other organisations that provide services and goods (like shops, restaurants, and cinemas)
- When you use transport
- When you join a club or association (for example, your local rugby club)
- When you have contact with public bodies like your local council or government departments
Celebrating protected characteristics at Kingsley Primary School
In everyday classroom discussions, teachers foster a culture that empowers pupils to challenge their misconceptions and build their knowledge of others around them. Young people are naturally curious and many who have protected characteristics may feel anxious about sharing their experiences. Kingsley Primary creates a culture of inclusion and celebrating others is part of the fabric as opposed to an add-on. For example:
- Opening a dialogue with parents who don’t speak English as their first language
- Allowing staff and pupils to have designated prayer facilities
- School displays that showcase diversity ie: families
- Celebrating achievements in assemblies
- Our school behaviour policy
- Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
- Discussion within curriculum subjects, taking a cross-curricular approach
- Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary
- Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) sessions
- Religious Education (RE) lessons, RSE lessons
- Sporting, Art and Cultural Events
- Pupil Voice
- Educational visits
- Learning outside the classroom
- Guest speakers
- Developing links with local, national and international communities
- Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community
Kingsley Primary teach an inclusive PSHE education curriculum and makes reference to the protected characteristics throughout most lessons, rather than being a one-off learning experience. Within the Questions Based Model primary programme builder that we use, there are specific opportunities to explore protected characteristic’s aspects in more depth in:
Year 1 Relationships:
What is the same and different about us?
Who is special to us?
Year 2 Relationships:
What makes a good friend?
What is bullying?
Year 2 Living in the Wider World:
What jobs do people do?
Year 3 Relationships:
What are families like?
How can we be a good friend?
Year 3 Living in the Wider World:
What makes a community?
Year 4 Relationships:
How do we treat each other with respect?
Y4 Health and Wellbeing:
How will we grow and change?
Year 5 Health and Wellbeing:
What makes up our identity?
Year 5 Living in the Wider World:
What jobs would we like?
Year 6 Relationships:
What will change as we become more independent?
How do friendships change as we grow?
Factors that contribute to pupils’ personal development
Below are some examples of the opportunities a pupil at Kingsley Primary will have to support their personal development.
Factors that contribute to PD | Some Examples |
Curriculum subjects such as PSHE, RE and RSE contribute to personal development |
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Developing responsible, respectful and active citizens |
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Developing and deepening pupils’ understanding of fundamental British values |
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Promoting equality of opportunity so that pupils thrive together and have an understanding of the protected characteristics. |
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Understand that difference is positive, not negative and that individual characteristics make people unique |
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Promote an inclusive environment that meets the needs of all pupils irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation |
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Develop pupils’ character defined as a set of positive personal traits, dispositions and virtues that informs motivation and guides their conduct |
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Develop confidence, resilience and knowledge so they can keep themselves mentally healthy. |
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Enable pupils to recognise online and offline risks to their safety e.g. risks from CSE, domestic abuse, FGM, forced marriage, substance misuse, gang activity, radicalisation, extremism and the support available to them |
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Develop understanding of how to keep physically healthy |
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Develop age appropriate understanding of healthy relationships |
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Please also see our “Equality and Diversity” Policy.