Protected Characteristics

At St Barnabas, we want every child to know that:

• There are no outsiders here

• Everyone is different

• We celebrate our differences

• We are all equal in our differences

The Equality Act 2010 protects everyone in Britain from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. It makes sure that people are not treated unfairly because of who they are. The Act covers nine Protected Characteristics:

• Age

• Disability

• Gender reassignment

• Race

• Religion or belief

• Marriage or civil partnership

• Sex

• Sexual orientation

• Pregnancy and maternity

At St Barnabas, we actively promote these values through our curriculum and embed them into our ethos, ensuring that all members of our school community feel valued and respected.

The Equality Act applies to many parts of everyday life, including:

• The workplace

• Public services such as healthcare and education

• Businesses and organisations that provide services (for example, shops, restaurants and cinemas)

• Transport

• Clubs and associations (such as local sports teams)

• Contact with public bodies, such as councils or government departments

How we bring this to life at St Barnabas
Children at St Barnabas learn about the Protected Characteristics in age-appropriate ways through PSHE lessons, RE, assemblies and collective worship. Stories, discussion and real-life examples help them to see the importance of treating everyone with fairness, kindness and respect. Our Worship Warriors also play a part in modelling and sharing these values across the school.

By learning about the Protected Characteristics, our children understand that everyone has the right to be treated fairly, with dignity and respect — both within our school and in the wider community.

Protected Characteristics at St Barnabas

Progression with SCARF (PSHE scheme) 

Here are some good books that we share at school with the children and you may want to look at together at home that cover protected characteristics in a wonderful way: