The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain is protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics:

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender reassignment
4. Marriage or civil partnership
5. Pregnancy and maternity
6. Race
7. Religion or belief
8. Sex
9. Sexual orientation

Under the Equality Act you are protected from discrimination:

• When you are in the workplace
• When you use public services like healthcare (for example, visiting your doctor or local hospital) or education (for example, at your school or college)
• When you use businesses and other organisations that provide services and goods (like shops, restaurants, and cinemas)
• When you use transport
• When you join a club or association (for example, your local sports club)
• When you have contact with public bodies like your local council or government departments

We use the British values and the protected characteristics in the Equality Act as a framework to prevent discrimination of any kind in our community and explicitly teach our students to report any discrimination to a trusted adult immediately. 

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted at Co-op Academy Belle Vue through:     

• Our school vision and mission
• Our CARE principles in particular Community and Respect
• Our consistent behaviour routines and norms
• Our student leadership programme
• Our wider community outreach and engagement
• Our Community Conversations during Community Lunch
• Our Care curriculum and explicit teaching of CARE, British values and the equality act
• Our wider curriculum areas
• Our wider opportunities for external speakers, workshops and external visits
• Our student voice, staff voice and family voice
• Our electives programme