Protected Characteristics
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. 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 departments
Here at BGS we actively promote the 9 Protected Characteristics both implicitly and explicitly through:
- Vision
- To be an outstanding, forward looking selective academy, collaborating and working in partnership with our community to challenge and inspire the area's young people so that they can fulfil their potential, whilst preserving our unique history, traditions and established ethos.
- Mission
- To encourage the pursuit of excellence in everything that we strive to achieve, in academic and extra-curricular endeavours.
- To collaborate and work in partnership with our community to provide a challenging and character building education for our students, inspired by a tradition of success and high expectations.
- To preserve and celebrate the school's unique history and traditions, whilst adopting a modern curriculum and encouraging adaptability, initiative and innovation.
- To encourage our students to become self-reliant, self-disciplined, courteous and thoughtful individuals who value themselves, others and their environment.
- To prepare our students so that they can contribute to the wider community, including that of our international neighbours, and be well equipped to compete in the job market of the 21st century.
- To serve our local community, whilst working with national and international partners to encourage an aspirational outlook.
- To provide opportunities for all our students and staff to fulfil their potential, in an environment where care, achievement, respect and excellence are expected.
- Our student welfare approach.
- Pastoral care is delivered via a dedicated team and via the Tutor system enabling a whole school approach to foster an atmosphere that promotes tolerance, resilience, fairness and equal opportunities for all, with due regard for protected characteristics.
- School behaviour policy.
- Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community.
- Pupil Voice conversations.
- The school's curriculum
- One of our four key intent tenets includes "To respect British values and have a sense of pride in who they are, understanding their rights and responsibilities, whilst embracing others' views, cultures and lifestyles."
- Subject curriculums (see mapping documents below), especially Life Skills and RE lessons.
- Including understanding of Equality, Human Rights and Protected Characteristics.
- Including understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination.
- Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary.
- Our wider curriculum, including:
- Assemblies
- British Values themes
- 'Reading & Debating' at tutor time
- 'Votes for Schools' learning
- Cultural Events
- Fair play in sport
- Educational visits
- Guest speakers
- Developing links with local, national and international communities
- Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community