PROMOTING THE FUNDAMENTAL BRITISH VALUES

​

As a school we will uphold the Department for Education’s five part definition of fundamental British Values;
 

• Democracy – we will learn about how voices are heard and how the people are represented

• The rule of law – we will learn about how justice is done in the UK

• Individual liberty – we will learn to uphold our rights and learn how individual views are expressed within the law

• Mutual respect for and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith – we will learn to respect those who are different from us and to understand their views even if we don’t hold
  them ourselves

 

 

 

These values are taught in lessons and in assemblies, but most importantly in action as we work together day by day and grow to become the best people we can be.

 

PROMOTING THE NINE PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS

 

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:

​

1. Age

2. Disability

3. Gender reassignment

4. Race

5. Religion or belief

6. Marriage or civil partnership

7. Sex

8. Sexual orientation

9. 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

 

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:

​

• Our school ethos statements, SDP, and SEF

• 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 themes

• Discussion within curriculum subjects, taking a cross-curricular approach

• Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary

• Personal development lessons

• Religious Education (RE) lessons,  LGBT discussions and Protected Characteristic talks

• Sporting, Art and Cultural Events

• Pupil Voice and Debating Club

• Educational visits

• Real-life learning outside the classroom

• Guest speakers

• Developing links with local, national and international communities e.g. Sierra Leone 

• Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community

• Culture Day 

 

Embedding Protected Characteristics into the whole ethos of Newland School for Girls 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