• We believe everyone in our school values and demonstrates the characteristics throughout school
• Everyone is welcome in our school
• Everyone is welcome to take part in our clubs
• We help people if they have a disability
• We have assemblies that teach us about equality and diversity
• Everyone has a voice
• We have diverse books and texts
• We respect our visitors
• Everyone is different and we celebrate everyone
• We are a school of sanctuary

Protected Characteristics

• We believe everyone in our school values and demonstrates the characteristics throughout school
• Everyone is welcome in our school
• Everyone is welcome to take part in our clubs
• We help people if they have a disability
• We have assemblies that teach us about equality and diversity
• Everyone has a voice
• We have diverse books and texts
• We respect our visitors
• Everyone is different and we celebrate everyone
• We are a school of sanctuary

 

The protected characteristics form part of the 2010 Equalities Act protecting people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

 

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in our school through:

• Our school ethos statements, SDP, and SEF
• Our school behaviour policy
• Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
• Active engagement and communication with parents and carers
• Assemblies and British Values themes 
• Discussion within curriculum subjects, taking a cross-curricular approach
• Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary
• PSHE sessions
• Religious Education (RE) lessons, RSE lessons and Protected Characteristic talks
• Sporting, Art and Cultural Events
• Pupil Voice
• Educational visits
• Real-life learning outside the classroom
• Guest speakers
• Developing links with local, national and international communities whenever possible
• Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community

Embedding Protected Characteristics into the whole ethos of Byker Primary School promotes:

• Self-esteem, self-knowledge and self-confidence
• Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process
• 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 behaviou
• An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination

Byker Primary is committed to serving its community.  It recognises the multicultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom.  It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them. Our curriculum extends beyond the academic with the aim of supporting pupils to develop in many diverse aspects of life.

It follows equal opportunities' guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. Byker Primary is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its students.

The school uses strategies within the National curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students.   We strive endlessly to ensure that its students leave with the strongest foundation of values upon which to build a successful life and a successful contribution to our society.

Byker provides opportunities to develop children’s social, moral and cultural development. The curriculum and our wider work supports our pupils to be confident, resilient and independent and develops strength of character.

We use a range of approaches to achieve this aim:

• British Values
• Rights Respecting
• School Values
• Equality Act
• SMSC
• Safeguarding Curriculum
• PSHE/RSE Curriculum 
• POL-Ed
• Enrichment (11 before 11)
• Trips, Visitors and Workshops
• Focus Learning Days
• Pupil Panels

Cultural Capital

What is ‘Cultural Capital’?

Cultural capital is the essential knowledge that children need to prepare them for their future success. It is about giving children the best possible start to their education.  

Research shows that when a child’s cultures are valued, both their experience of learning and their progress can benefit 

Cultural capital is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours, and skills that a child can draw upon to be successful in their education, society and the world of work. It helps children achieve goals and become successful no matter their starting point.

Cultural Capital at Byker Primary School

At Byker Primary School, pupils benefit from a creative and ambitious curriculum that builds on what they understand and know already. We believe the exposure to valuable, long-life experiences is important to their ongoing successes.

We recognise that for our pupils to Inspire, Enjoy and Achieve academically and in the wider areas of their lives, they need to be given rich and sustained opportunities to develop their cultural capital. We do this in many ways, for example, through our curriculum, extra-curricular activities, workshops, visits, enrichment days and community links. It helps us to illustrate how we accumulate knowledge, behaviours and skills though our creative and ambitious curriculum.

Extra Curricular Activities Overview

We run a variety of extra-curricular clubs for children in Years 1 - 6.  The choice of clubs changes termly and we aim to provide a range of clubs that will appeal to different children so that every child can find a club that interests them. Our School Council members feedback suggestions and voting opportunities for the clubs that our pupils would like and staff are keen to follow the interests and talents of our children.

Examples of clubs include: Choir, Drumming, Coding Club, Science Investigations, Gymnastics, Football Clubs for all ages and genders, Lego  Club, Arts & Crafts for all ages, Garden Club, Languages, Dodgeball Club, Basketball Club, Kick Boxing, AfroCaribean Beats dancing, DJ music club, NEST project, Hat Trick, Cricket club, Recyke-a-bike fixing bikes, Drama club.

In order to provide the children with opportunities to attend inter-school competitions, we run clubs in co-operation with our partner schools.  We also work with external organisations such as Newcastle United Foundation, Newcastle Falcons Rugby, Newcastle Thunder Rugby League, Elite Education (formerly Premier Sport),  and Newcastle Music Service in order to provide a wider variety of extra-curricular activities.

Collective Worship Overview

At Byker Primary school, we feel that regular collective worship benefits the school and whole community by developing a sense of belonging. It can add value to the education process by encouraging children to develop their awareness of the universal principles of right and wrong, justice, fairness and concern for the fate of others and the world. During this time, children are able to consider and reflect on their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and deliberate over current world affairs and issues.

To ensure that a quality experience is provided, we believe that collective worship should be well planned and effectively led. The entire school use a quote from ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ by Charlie Mackesy to plan class collective worship from in an age appropriate manner.

We are able to develop our understanding of the quote throughout the week and can draw on our experiences of each issue. This special time of reflection is marked in different ways.

Relational Circles

At Byker primary School relationships are key.  We devote daily time to whole class relational circles to allow all pupils time to regulate when entering school, work through social and emotional issues that arise for the individual, class or school in a safe manner.