British Values

Woodthorpe Infant School is committed to actively promoting British values to ensure our pupils leave us fully prepared for key stage 2 and beyond.

The government emphasises that all schools should ensure that they teach pupils about British values. We take every opportunity to promote the fundamental British values of:

• democracy;
• the rule of law;
• individual liberty; and
• mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Through the promotion of these values, our school aims to ensure all of our pupils understand:

• the importance of democracy and how people can have a say in decision making;
• why rules are important and how they keep us safe;
• the importance of accountability;
• other people may have a different opinion and it is important to respect that;
• people who hold different religious beliefs should be respected and valued not discriminated against; and
• the importance of being an upstander - standing up for what is right.

We promote British values both within and beyond the classroom and these values are at the heart of our ethos.

Protected Characteristics

Through teaching the children about the protected characteristics, we feel that we are supporting them to gain an understanding of the world they are growing up in, and learn how to live alongside, and show respect for, a diverse range of people. 

The Equality Act 2010, identifies the following as protected characteristics:

• Families (Being married or in a civil partnership)
• Disability
• Race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
• Religion or belief
• Gender (Sex)
• Sexual orientation
• Being pregnant or on maternity leave
• Gender reassignment
• Age

At Woodthorpe Infant School we prioritise the 'bold' characteristics above.  For further information, please look at our Respect and RE curricula.

We also pride ourselves on having a well-considered approach to the teaching of the protected characteristics, in order to:

• eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation;

• advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; and

• foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.