Protected Characteristics
At Holy Family Catholic Primary School, we are committed to promoting equality, inclusion and respect for all. We believe that every child should feel valued, supported and given equal opportunities to thrive within our school community. These principles are modelled by our staff and embedded throughout school life through both explicit teaching and everyday experiences.
Our approach is delivered through our PSHE and RSHE curriculum, alongside wider curriculum opportunities that encourage children to develop empathy, understanding and respect for others. To further enhance this provision, we have introduced the No Outsiders programme, which uses carefully selected, age-appropriate picture books to explore themes of diversity, belonging and inclusion.
The No Outsiders programme is built upon three core values:
- Respect for diversity through education in schools;
- Commitment to community cohesion through understanding and acceptance of difference;
- Promotion of dialogue to challenge fear and discrimination in society.
The programme supports children in learning about the nine protected characteristics identified within the Equality Act 2010:
- Age;
- Disability;
- Gender reassignment;
- Race;
- Religion or belief;
- Sex;
- Sexual orientation.
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
We believe it is essential to create a school culture where children, staff and the wider community work together to foster inclusivity through effective spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development.
Through this work, pupils are encouraged to discuss prejudice and discriminatory language appropriately, develop an understanding of personal boundaries and learn how to respond respectfully and thoughtfully to difference. This helps prepare them to become compassionate, responsible citizens in modern Britain.
Across our school, we promote a clear and consistent message:
- There are no outsiders here;
- Everyone is different;
- We celebrate and value difference;
- We are all equal in our uniqueness;
- We can respect and get along with one another, even when we are different;
- We live in the United Kingdom, where British values and the law support equality and inclusion.
We value the important partnership between home and school and work closely with parents, carers and families to promote these shared values. Parents and carers are always welcome to speak with their child’s class teacher to discuss our approach or to view the picture books and resources used within the programme.
At Holy Family Catholic Primary School, there are no outsiders — everyone is welcome.