We work to ensure that our children understand that:

• There are no outsiders at Stanhope Primary School
• Everyone is different
• We celebrate our differences
• We are all equal in our differences

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:

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender reassignment
4. Race
5. Religion or belief
6. Marriage or civil partnership
7. Sex
8. Sexual orientation
9. Pregnancy and maternity

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:

• Our school ethos
• Our school corevalues – Seven Strengths
• Our school behaviour policy
• Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
• Active engagement and communication with parents and carers
• Collective Worship and class assemblies
• Promotion of British Values across the school community
• Discussion within curriculum subjects, taking a cross-curricular approach
• Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary across all subject areas
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) sessions
• Religious Education (RE) lessons, RSE lessons and Protected Characteristic talks
• Sporting competitions, festivals and opportunities
• Art and Cultural activities
• Pupil Voice e.g. School Councillors,  Wellbeing Warriors and Sports Crew Leaders
• Educational visits
• Real-life learning outside the classroom
• Guest speakers and visitors from the wider community
• Developing stronger links with the local, national and international communities
• Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community

We firmly believe that embedding Protected Characteristics into the whole school ethos at Stanhope promotes:

• Self-esteem, self-knowledge and self-confidence of everyone in our school community
• Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process will be raised
• Acceptance of responsibility for their own behaviour
• Respect for their own and other cultures
• Understanding of how people can contribute positively to school and home life and to the lives of those living and working in the local community and beyond
• 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 of all
• 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 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

Quality Texts we have that promote Protected Characteristics: