Many schools cover the Protected Characteristics, as part of supporting children’s personal development and their understanding of equality and inclusion. Recent developments have led to some councils across the UK to formally recognise ‘Care Experience’ as a Protected Characteristic, in addition to the 9 characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010. Let’s find out more… What are the Protected Characteristics? The term Protected Characteristics arose with the introduction of the 2010 Equality Act. This followed campaigns from groups and individuals to promote and protect human rights. There are 9 Protected Characteristics listed within the Equality Act: SexSexual OrientationAgeDisabilityGender ReassignmentMarriage & Civil PartnershipPregnancy & MaternityRaceReligion or Belief It is against the law to discriminate anyone based on these characteristics. This law protects people from discrimination at work, in school, as a consumer, when using public services, when renting or buying property, or as a member of a private group, amongst other scenarios. Teaching the Protected Characteristics in school Embedding the Protected Characteristics within your curriculum can help build a welcoming, inclusive school community, and develop children’s understanding of equality and fairness. This can ultimately help shape them into respectful, well-adjusted citizens. On inspecting how equality is taught, Ofsted say: “Inspectors will gather evidence on how schools promote equality and pupils’ understanding of the protected characteristics. They will use this evidence as part of evaluating and coming to judgements on 3 main areas: The personal development of pupilsThe effectiveness of leadership and managementFor non-association independent schools, whether the school meets the independent school standards; this also informs the judgement about the effectiveness of its leadership and management Pupils’ understanding of the protected characteristics and how equality and diversity are promoted form part of the evidence that inspectors use to evaluate the school’s personal development of pupils.” Using the news to teach the Protected Characteristics Each weekly Picture News pack makes a meaningful link between what’s happening in the world and a Protected Characteristic. For example, a news story about the election of Spain’s first parliamentarian with Down’s syndrome, Mar Galcerán, reflects the disability characteristic, and reminds children that nobody should be treated unfairly because of a disability. Linking the news to the Protected Characteristics helps children think about often complex concepts in a real-life context, boosting their understanding and awareness of them. What’s more – the work is done for you, so no need to research or plan how you will cover the Protected Characteristics. Our team of Education Consultants prepare the links for you, and offer a non-prescriptive teacher guide. Check out a recent news pack (featuring a link to Protected Characteristics) here. How some Picture News schools cover the Protected Characteristics and equality “We have been using Picture News for nearly 6 months throughout the school and I use it myself as the Headteacher during assembly. The children have acquired a fantastic knowledge of British Values and Protected Characteristics from this resource. OFSTED agreed with this last week when they visited.” – St Anthony of Padua Catholic Primary School “At our school, we use Picture News to engage students with current world events and encourage thoughtful discussion and reflection. This approach not only helps students understand global events but also fosters an appreciation of British Values, Protected Characteristics, and the UNCRC rights of the child. Through these discussions, we aim to prepare our students for the future as informed, empathetic, and socially responsible individuals.” – Newton Road School An update on the Protected Characteristics: Introducing Care Experience There have been many discussions around updating the list of Protected Characteristics, from lawyers, councillors, to campaign groups. What does ‘care experienced’ mean? Someone who is care experienced has experience of the care system, including children currently in care, or ‘care leavers’ – people who have previously been in the care system but have now left. The term refers to people with experience of care on both a short and long-term basis. It includes those who have lived (now or in the past) within residential care, foster care, kinship care, or at home with supervision orders. What’s happening? Now, around 80 local authorities in the UK are adding ‘Care Experience’ to their list of Protected Characteristics, which protects individuals from being discriminated against for being in care, now or at some point in their lives. Here are a couple of useful web pages explaining this shift: · Councils consider care leavers protected status (BBC News) · Leeds is one of the latest councils to recognise Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic (Leeds City Council) According to Leeds City Council, “The move follows a deputation to full council from care leavers, recognising that people’s experience of being in the care system can lead to similar barriers than those faced by other groups with protected characteristics.” What could the impact of Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic be? Recognising people with care experience within the Protected Characteristics may lead to increased representation and opportunities for those who have been in care. The decision of many councils follows acknowledgement that care leavers are more likely to face discrimination across many areas and sectors, including education, housing and education. Formal recognition of those with care experience, and the socio-economic and wellbeing obstacles they may face, looks to eradicate these barriers by offering protection and meeting needs, whilst building others’ awareness of care experience. Many hope that expanding and updating the list of Protected Characteristics will further help us foster an inclusive and respectful society, where everyone can access opportunities and overcome challenges, regardless of who they are. What do others say? Some people have shared their thoughts with the Children’s Commissioner about their experiences and thoughts on the possible addition. Here are some of them: “I have experienced a lot of discrimination as someone who is care experienced. There is a negative stigma and judgement. I’ve even experienced this in my role as professional & in the past it’s made me feel I have to be quiet like I should be ashamed of my care experience. At work there’s been incidences where I’ve been treated differently.” “For some young people I believe this may be beneficial, however, many of the looked after children I have worked with (and indeed fostered myself) would see this as a negative acknowledgement of their disadvantage – not only in terms of stigma but also a self-fulfilling prophecy which may prohibit their achievement of their full potential.” When introducing Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic within their operations, many councillors have spoken about the decision, including: “The recognition of care experience as a protected characteristic will further cement our commitment to care leavers, after young people brought a passionate and persuasive deputation to our January full council meeting. But it goes further than that, with this decision, we want to make sure that no-one with care experience is discriminated against, and that all children in Leeds have every opportunity to live fulfilling and successful lives without barriers.” – Councillor Fiona Venner at Leeds City Council. Key takeaway – Building inclusion awareness Regardless of how Protected Characteristics categorisation and teaching evolves, what remains is a commitment to inclusivity and respect. Bringing inclusion awareness into the classroom introduces children to variety, encouraging respect for others and celebration of differences. At the core of Protected Characteristics legislation and guidance is an unwavering duty to respect others – a message we can apply within our school settings, wider communities, and beyond. Useful links to find out more about the Protected Characteristics and Care Experience: Gov UK – Discrimination: Your Rights Leeds City Council – Leeds set to make care experience a protected characteristic BBC - Councils consider care leavers protected status TACT Fostering – Care Experience A Protected Characteristic? Staying Close - Leeds Care Leavers Demand Recognition as a Protected Characteristic Enfield Council - Care experience as a protected characteristic Children’s Commissioner - Should care experience be a protected characteristic? MFMAC - Should additions to the list of protected characteristics be made? Didlaw - Should There be an Expanded List of Protected Characteristics in the Equality Act? Equality and Human Rights Commission - Protected Characteristics
