Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging - including the British Values and Protected Characteristics

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The Protected Characteristics at Intake Farm Primary School

At Intake Farm Primary School and Nursery, we teach our children that we all have characteristics and that 9 are protected.

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain, and it protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation because of the protected characteristics that we all have.

Under the Equality Act, these are the nine protected characteristics:

Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Race - including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
Religion or belief
Marriage or civil partnership
Sex
Sexual orientation
Pregnancy and maternity

No form of discrimination is tolerated at Intake Farm Primary School and Nursery.

The curriculum is planned and delivered so that our children develop age-appropriate knowledge and understanding of the Protected Characteristics during their time at Intake Farm Primary School and Nursery.

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:

•Our school vision

•Our school values

•Our school behaviour policy

•Modelling by all adults in the school community, including appropriate vocabulary

•Active engagement and communication with parents and carers

•Assemblies

•Modelling and teaching appropriate vocabulary

•Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) sessions

•Religious Education (RE) lessons

•Pupil voice opportunities, including our School Council and Prefects

•Educational visits and extra-curricular activities

•School council

The British Values within Intake Farm

The five key British values are:

Democracy – understanding how democratic processes work and how the UK uses them to govern
Individual liberty – learning about rights, freedoms and responsibilities as individuals within a society
Rule of law – exploring the importance of laws in maintaining a safe and fair society
Mutual respect - valuing other people's rights and opinions
Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs – fostering an environment of mutual respect and tolerance amongst people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures

We promote the British values at Intake Farm

We actively promote the British values at our school. We create safe spaces where our children can discuss complex issues such as citizenship, equality and belonging. We support our children to become critical thinkers and to develop the knowledge and skills to reject stereotypes and prejudice. We know that, by teaching the British values, we will be teaching our children to be thoughtful and active citizens who respect others and challenge prejudice and discrimination.

We embed our teaching and learning of the British values through:

our school values
English, history, geography, RE, citizenship, PSHE
assemblies
extra-curricular activities, visitors to school and educational visits
classroom and communal displays
communications with parents and carers
our anti-bullying and behaviour policies and practices

Within our school, both British Values and our School Values are embedded within our school ethos and daily life.

Our School Values

Friendship and Kindness
Responsibility
Peace and Freedom
Respect
Politeness
Perseverance

Our school values are embedded within our weekly assembly themes and entwined into our PSHE curriculum during class circle time.

Our vision and values are at the core of everything we do. As a school that was rated as 'Good' by OFSTED in 2023, we have many positive attributes. However, we are aiming even higher and want our school to become 'Outstanding' in all areas. A central aspect to this is a desire to provide an exciting, vibrant and varied curriculum which helps our children to achieve their potential. Our curriculum matches the needs of our pupils and equips them for a successful future. At the heart of this, we celebrate diversity and equality and recognise the fact that it is important to treat everybody the same, regardless of race, gender or religious belief. We are aware of the fact that Britain has a long and successful history of welcoming different people to our shores. This is a core value of both our country and our school. We strive to enrich the lives of all our pupils through our curriculum and our pastoral care.

This is what our children think about the British Values:

Mutual tolerance and respect

Kai- It is important because no one would be friends otherwise. Just because someone looks different doesn't mean they're not a nice person. We should respect and not judge a book by its cover.

Theo- If no one respected each other, the world would not be peaceful. We respect other people's religions at this school.

Olly- If no one respected each other, it might cause arguments. If someone believes in something, you should respect that, even if you don't believe in it.

Emre- Respecting is important.

All- We show respect at our school.

Individual Liberty

Luca- If everyone is the same, it could cause arguments.

Kaydon- Don't let other people change who you are.

Olly- Life would be boring.

Emre- Be yourself. It's good to be different.

All- We can be ourselves at this school.

The Rule of Law

Olly- This is to keep things equal. If you follow the law, you won't be arrested.

Theo- It would be chaos without rules and laws.

Kai- We can still have peace and freedom but within the law. We have to follow them.

Emre- We have to follow the rules to keep the peace.

All- We have to follow rules. We follow rules at this school.

Democracy

Kaydon- This is a conversation to vote for things.

Luca- If one person decided things, it might cause arguments.

Theo- It is a vote. We voted for each other for the school council. Sometimes we vote to do either Maths or English first. Parliament has to vote for new leaders.

Pupil voice conducted with RE ambassadors in March 2023