British Values and Protected characteristics

Preparing Children for Life in Modern Britain

At St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School we take our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain very seriously. We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. Children embrace these concepts with enthusiasm and demonstrate a good understanding of their application to their own lives.

What are British Values?

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools. The government set out its definition of British values in the ‘Prevent Strategy’ – values of:

Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
Mutual respect
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

Please click here to download the school’s British Values Statement outlining what we do in school to promote this.

British Values Statement 2025.pdf

Protected characteristics

At St. Augustine's, we ensure that our children understand that:

Everyone is different
Our differences are celebrated
We are equal in our differences
We are unique and united in God's love

The Equality Act became law in 2010 to protect everyone in Britain from discrimination, harassment and victimisation due to the protected characteristics we all have. Under the Equality Act, it is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of the 9 protected characteristics, as follows:-

Age
Disability
Gender
Race
Religion or Belief
Sexual orientation
Marriage and civil partnership
Pregnancy and maternity

The Equality Act protects you from discrimination:

At work
In education
As a consumer
When using public services
When buying or renting property
As a member or guest of a private club or association

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 school. The Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in our school through:

Our school mission, vision and core Catholic values
Our collective worship including the use of Picture News and our Celebration assembly
British Values, SMSC and Equality and Diversity throughout our curriculum
Our school behaviour and relationships policy
Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
Active engagement and communication with parents and carers
Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary
Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) sessions
Religious Education (RE) lessons & HRSE lessons
Sporting, Art and Cultural Events
Pupil Voice and Staff Voice
Educational visits
Real-life learning outside the classroom including trips and visits, including visitors into school
Developing links with local communities
Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community

Embedding Protected Characteristics into the whole school ethos promotes:

Self-esteem, self-knowledge and self-confidence
Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process of pupil voice
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