At St Joseph's, we are committed to promoting equality, respect and inclusion for all members of our community. We teach pupils, in an age-appropriate way, about protected characteristics, which are differences that are protected by law under the Equality Act 2010. These protections exist to ensure that people are not treated unfairly or discriminated against.

Protected characteristics include:

• Age

• Disability

• Gender reassignment

• Marriage and civil partnership

• Pregnancy and maternity

• Race

• Religion or belief

• Sex

• Sexual orientation

Our approach focuses on helping children understand:

• That everyone is different and valued

• The importance of fairness and respect

• That discriminatory behaviour is unacceptable

• How laws help protect people’s rights

Teaching about protected characteristics is embedded within our PSHE curriculum, British Values, assemblies and wider learning. It is delivered in a sensitive, factual and age-appropriate manner, with no explicit content.

By the time pupils leave our school, they are able to talk confidently about equality, understand why discrimination is wrong and show respect for others as they move on to the next stage of their education and life in modern Britain.