Protected Characteristics at Bluecoat Primary Academy
At Bluecoat Primary Academy, we work to ensure that our children understand:
- Everyone is different
- We celebrate our differences
- We are all equal in our differences
- Every child is a child of God
We believe that everyone is valued, respected, and welcome to thrive within our community. We are proud to be a school where there are no outsiders—only individuals who belong.
The Equality Act 2010 protects everyone in Britain from discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. It applies to all of us, because we all have Protected Characteristics.
The Nine Protected Characteristics:
How We Promote Protected Characteristics at Bluecoat Primary Academy
We embed these values across our school through:
- Our school ethos, Academy Improvement Plan (AIP), and Self-Evaluation Framework (SEF)
- Our core STRIVE Values
- Our behaviour policy and restorative practices
- Role modelling by all adults in our school community
- Active engagement with parents and carers
- Collective Worship and Believe Times
- Promotion of British Values
- Cross-curricular discussions and inclusive curriculum design
- Building vocabulary and language around inclusion
- PSHE, RE, RSE lessons and Protected Characteristic talks
- Sporting competitions and cultural festivals
- Pupil Voice groups: School Councillors, Worship Leaders, Faith Councillors, Reading Ambassadors, Eco Warriors, Creative Champions and Prefects.
- Educational visits and real-life learning experiences
- Guest speakers and community visitors
- Strong links with local, national, and international communities
- Extra-curricular clubs, charity work, and community outreach
Why It Matters:
By embedding Protected Characteristics into our whole-school ethos, we promote:
- Self-esteem, self-knowledge, and confidence
- Respect for democracy and participation in decision-making
- Responsibility for behaviour and choices
- Respect for all cultures and beliefs
- Understanding of equality, human rights, and the law
- Appreciation of diversity and the importance of inclusion
- A commitment to identifying and challenging discrimination
Celebrating Diversity Through Storytelling at Home
At Bluecoat Primary Academy, we know that stories have a unique power to help children understand the world around them. Through books and storytelling, children can explore important themes such as kindness, fairness, respect, and inclusion, all while developing empathy and a deeper appreciation for others.
We warmly encourage families to read together at home using texts that reflect the Protected Characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010. These stories help children understand that everyone is different, we celebrate our differences, and we are all equal in our differences.
Each recommended book is age-appropriate and chosen to gently introduce children to the values of diversity and equality. Whether it is a picture book that celebrates different families, a story about overcoming challenges, or a tale that explores identity and belonging, these texts bring the Protected Characteristics to life in a way that is meaningful and accessible for children.
Reading together not only supports learning, it nurtures conversations that help children grow into compassionate, respectful, and inclusive individuals.
Promoting Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB)
At Bluecoat Primary Academy, inclusion and belonging are at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is to inspire happy, well-rounded individuals who respect each other and strive to become the best versions of themselves. We care for one another, celebrate individuality and uniqueness, and nurture a sense of belonging so that every member of our community feels safe, valued, and accepted.
Discriminatory behaviour undermines these values and is something we take very seriously. The Equality Act 2010 identifies nine protected characteristics:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
We ask for your support in speaking with your child about the importance of treating everyone with kindness and respect, and the emotional harm that prejudice-based language can cause.
To further support families, we have created a leaflet that provides guidance on what to do if your child experiences discrimination or is involved in discriminatory behaviour. Moving forward:
- If your child is found to have discriminated against another pupil, you will receive a letter along with this leaflet.
- The leaflet is also available on our school website for your reference.
We are working closely with the Local Authority, who have reported an increase in prejudice-based incidents across schools, often linked to exposure through social media.
We encourage you to actively monitor your child’s online activity and remind them about responsible use of social media. Guidance on online safety can be found on our website under
In school, we will continue to address these issues through restorative conversations, targeted class work, and support from our Governors’ Equity Team and the Archway Learning Trust. Our commitment remains to ensure every child feels safe, respected, and included.
For more information, please read our leaflet below:
