Protected Characteristics

Learning Through Faith: We Believe, Dream and Achieve

“…to discover life in all its fullness” (John 10:10)

At St Edmund’s CofE (C) Primary & Nursery School, our vision is rooted in faith. We believe every child and member of our community should have the opportunity to believe in themselves, dream big, and achieve their full potential. Guided by our Christian mantra, we strive to help everyone “…to discover life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).

Our Commitment to Equality:

As a Church of England school, we are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment. We celebrate diversity and protect the rights of all, ensuring that everyone feels valued and can flourish.

We uphold the 9 protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

How Our Christian Ethos and School Values Support Equality:

Our core ‘Sixcess’ values – respect, responsibility, compassion, truth and trust, perseverance, justice and forgiveness – are inspired by our faith and guide all we do:

• Respect: We celebrate differences and treat everyone with dignity, reflecting God’s love for each individual.
• Responsibility: We all play a part in building a safe, supportive, and inclusive school community.
• Compassion: We show empathy and kindness, supporting those who face challenges and standing up against injustice.
• Truth and Trust: We are honest and trustworthy, creating a culture where all feel safe to express their identity and beliefs.
• Perseverance: We work together to overcome barriers, challenging inequality with hope and determination.
• Justice: We are committed to fairness and equal opportunities for all, protecting everyone’s rights.
• Forgiveness: We learn from our mistakes, seek reconciliation, and support one another’s growth.

Embedding Equality in Our Curriculum:

Our approach to equality is woven through our curriculum and daily life:

• Religious Education (RE):
  We use Understanding Christianity and the Nottinghamshire Agreed Syllabus to help children explore diverse beliefs and values, encouraging respect for all faiths and worldviews.
• Collective Worship:
  Every Monday, our collective worship is based on the PictureNews scheme. This helps children explore current events, connect them to our school values, and consider issues around equality, diversity, and respect in real-world contexts.
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE):
  Through Talking Points, pupils learn about themselves and others, healthy relationships, and the importance of diversity and respect. These programmes explicitly address the protected characteristics.
• English:
  Our English lessons, based on quality texts from CLPE, are selected to reflect a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. These texts connect to our foundation subjects, helping pupils develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world.
• Foundation Subjects:
  Using the Focus Education Learning Challenge Curriculum, children are encouraged to ask questions, explore real-life issues, and develop critical thinking. This curriculum helps pupils celebrate diversity, challenge stereotypes, and understand the importance of equality.

What This Means in Practice:

• We actively celebrate and respect the diversity of our pupils, staff, and community.
• Our curriculum challenges stereotypes and discrimination, promoting respect and understanding.
• Staff receive ongoing training on equality and protected characteristics, ensuring our values are modelled daily.
• Assemblies, lessons, and special events provide regular opportunities for pupils to learn about and reflect on equality and diversity.

We do not teach about all the protected characteristics in every year group. The curriculum is planned and delivered so that our pupils develop age appropriate knowledge and understanding during their time at St. Edmund’s.