Equality and Diversity

Equality and Diversity at Bolshaw Primary School 

At Bolshaw Primary School, we welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations
between people who share and do not share the following protected characteristics:

Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is essential for all our school community; pupils, staff, parents /carers, governors and visitors. Our aim is to create a school culture and environment where everyone can thrive together and understand that individual characteristics make people unique and not ‘different’ in a negative way.

We achieve this through the delivery of an inclusive curriculum and learning environment where all individuals can see themselves reflected within it and which prepares them for life in a diverse society. The nine protected characteristics have been carefully mapped across our curriculum and revisions have been made to maximise teaching and learning opportunities of diversity and equality. This will allow all children at Bolshaw Primary School o become ‘Successful learners, Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens and Effective Contributors’.

The Eqaulity Act

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 departments
• Respect is one of our core values at Bolshaw Primary School. We encourage every individual to be confident and proud of who they are as well as acquiring an appreciation of and respect both for their own and other cultures and traditions. Embedded throughout our school's curriculum, enrichment activities and assemblies, pupils learn about different religions, and encourage pupils to discuss and explore concepts such as identity, diversity and community cohesion.

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:

• 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
• British Values
• 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) lessons
• Religious Education (RE) lessons
• RSE lessons
• Sporting, Art and Cultural Events
• Pupil Voice
• Educational visits
• Real-life learning outside the classroom
• Guest speakers
• School Linking programme
• Developing links with local, national and international communities
• Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community

Embedding Protected Characteristics into the whole ethos of Bolshaw Primary School promotes:

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

Bolshaw Primary School Equality objectives 2022-23:

• • Ensure all staff members are familiar with the Equality Act 2010 and of their
    responsibilities within this.
  • To Audit our equality, diversity, inclusion provision and opportunities with all
    stakeholders.
  • To foster a culture that empowers pupils and staff to challenge their misconceptions
    and build their knowledge of others around them by continually evaluating the
    curriculum to maximise opportunities to teach and learn about equality.
  • To recognise and celebrate diversity within our community whilst promoting
    community cohesion.
  • Analyse representation of specific groups, using the protected characteristics, within
    ‘whole school life’ such as extra-curricular clubs and residentials and address any
    actions required to narrow the gap if necessary.

Files to Download