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:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Marriage or civil partnership
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- 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 (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 tennis club)
- When you have contact with public bodies like your local council or government department
The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school, often incidentally, through:
- Our school ethos and values
- Our school Social and Emotional Policy
- Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
- Active engagement and communication with parents and carers
- Collective Worship
- Values and British Values teaching and modelling
- Discussion within curriculum subjects, taking a cross-curricular approach
- Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary
- Relationships, Personal, Social, Health Education lessons
- Religious Education (RE) lessons
- Educational trips and visitors
- Developing links with local, national and international communities
- Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community