It is important that all children gain an understanding of the world they are growing up in. This cultural capital helps them to learn how to live alongside, and show respect for, a diverse range of people.

Protected Characteristics

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It protects everyone in Britain people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics:

At St Gabriel's RC Primary School, we pride ourselves on having a well-considered approach to the teaching of the protected characteristics.

The Protected Characteristics document below shows how these are embedded into our curriculum.  It is planned and delivered so that pupils develop age appropriate knowledge and understanding during their time at our school.

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:

• Our school Mission
• Our school core values
• Our school behaviour policy
• Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
• Active engagement and communication with parents and carers
• Assemblies
• Discussion within curriculum subjects
• Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) sessions
• Religious Education (RE) lessons and RSE lessons
• Sporting, Art and Cultural Events
• Pupil Voice
• Educational visits
• Real-life learning outside the classroom
• Guest speakers
• Developing links with local, national and global communities
• Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community

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

• Self-esteem, self-knowledge and self-confidence
• Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process
• Acceptance of responsibility for 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