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:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage or civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
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 sports club)
- When you have contact with public bodies like your local council or government departments
We use the British values and the protected characteristics in the Equality Act as a framework to prevent discrimination of any kind in our community and explicitly teach our students to report any discrimination to a trusted adult immediately.
The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted at St Mary’s Catholic high School and Sixth Form College through:
- Our school vision and mission
- Our Catholic Virtues – Faith, Hope and Love
- Our consistent behaviour routines and norms
- Our pupil leadership programme
- Our wider community outreach and engagement
- Our Curriculum for Life programme and explicit teaching of Protected Characteristics, British values and the Equality Act
- Our wider curriculum areas
- Our wider opportunities for external speakers, workshops and external visits
- Our student voice, staff voice and family voice
- Our co-curricular programme