Protected Characteristics

Bradford Academy is committed to teaching the understanding of the ‘Protected Characteristics.’ This is done by teaching the children to respect and value each of the characteristics. The nine protected characteristics are weaved through the curriculum so that the children understand that it is against the law to discriminate.

Throughout the PSHE programme and character curriculum we have sessions addressing equality and discrimination. We explore this as a general topic in Year 7, in Year 8 we explore these topics in terms of wider relationships, how equality links to human rights in Year 9 and through links to citizenship in Year 10. These themes are also covered through the Collective Worship Calendar content, specifically when we explore and celebrate topics such as: Black History Month, Anti-Bullying Week, World Religion Day, International Day of Peace, Diversity Week, Autism Acceptance Week and South Asian Heritage Month to name just a few.

Academic subjects support the delivery of equality and diversity through the curriculums they offer. For example, the English Department explore the theme of protected characteristics through the texts and extracts they study across the journey of KS3 and 4, including:

Year	Text/Extract	Theme
7	Cirque Du Freak – Darren Shan The Tempest – William Shakespeare Identity/My Batley – Mohammed Saloo Presents from my aunt in Pakistan – Moniza Alvi	Difference, Disability, Diversity Gender Discrimination Religion, Identity, Community Age, Generations, Culture
8	Dracula – Bram Stoker/David Calcutt The Yellow Wallpaper – Charlotte Perkins Gilman Mother, Any Distance – Simon Armitage Macbeth – William Shakespeare Pride, Progress and People – Lady Phyl He For She Campaign – Emma Watson Ain’t I a Woman? Soujourner Truth	Isolation, Gender Mental Health Parental Relationships, Age Marriage, Power, Betrayal LGBTQ+ Rights, Discrimination Gender Inequality, Discrimination Racism, Oppression, Gender Inequality
9	The Right Word – Imtiaz Dharker Belfast Confetti – Ciaran Carson Othello – William Shakespeare 1984 – George Orwell The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Attwood The Princess and the Hustler – Chinonyerem Odimba	Complexities of opposing beliefs and violence Religious Conflict, Community Mental Illness, Domestic Violence, Marriage Oppression, Democracy, Power Pregnancy, Gender Inequality Family, Racism, Identity
10	An Inspector Calls – JB Priestley Frankenstein – Mary Shelley Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology	Gender, Class, Wealth Inequality Isolation, Belonging, Disability, Love Power, Nature, Identity, War, Politics, Culture
11	Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare	Love, Gender, Masculinity, Fate

We also highlight protected characteristics through ‘Big Questions’. A humanities approach to plenaries that allows learners to focus on the learning from the lesson and link it to wider themes across society. For example, in RE they will look at equality of religion through their peace and conflict unit in RE lessons or religious views on sexuality and the importance of age in terms of elders within religions. In History, diverse perspectives are explored through the different units of work covered including attitudes to race, gender, and sexuality.