Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

At Bramcote Hills Primary we are fortunate to have a diverse school community. We strive to provide a school community that respects, values and celebrates differences. Throughout the school year we celebrate many different events, such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, Mental Health week and Wellbeing week.

Our school has a team of Diversity Champions from Key Stage Two who meet once every half-term. This provides children in our school a voice to share their thoughts on diversity, equality and inclusion within our school and ways we can build upon and improve our practice.

We are committed to providing an inclusive education for all our pupils that recognises the nine protected characteristics stated in the Equality Act of 2010. Through teaching these children gain an understanding of the world in which they are growing up in and develop a respect towards people who hold these characteristics.

The Protected Characteristics are as follows:

Sex (gender)
Disability
Age
Religion or belief
Marriage and Civil partnerships (families)
Pregnancy or maternity
Sexual orientation
Gender reassignment

We teach about these Protected Characteristics in line with our Jigsaw PSHCE scheme of work and at an age appropriate level. In Foundation and Key stage One we prioritise our teaching of the characteristics highlighted in bold.

Promoting British Values at Bramcote Hills Primary School

At Bramcote Hills Primary School, we celebrate the diversity of our pupils, families and wider community. We are committed to promoting equality, respect and inclusion, in line with the Equality Act 2010, the Prevent Duty (2015) and the Department for Education’s guidance on Promoting Fundamental British Values.

The DfE defines British Values as:

Democracy
The Rule of Law
Individual Liberty
Mutual Respect
Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

These values are embedded across school life, the curriculum, and our ethos. We aim to nurture confident, compassionate and responsible citizens who positively contribute to British and global society.

How We Promote British Values

Democracy

Pupil voice is central to school life, including through the School Council and Eco Reps.
Children regularly vote on decisions, contribute ideas, and take part in debates.
Democratic values are explored through PSHE, assemblies and curriculum topics

Individual Liberty

Children are supported to make safe, informed choices in a secure environment.
We promote independence, self-confidence, and personal responsibility.
Pupils learn about rights and freedoms through PSHE, online safety, and pastoral support.
A strong safeguarding and anti-bullying culture underpins all we do.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance

Respect is a core value and is modelled by staff and pupils.
Our curriculum (including RE and PSHE) fosters understanding of different faiths, cultures and perspectives.
We welcome visitors from a range of backgrounds and organise visits to places of worship.
Discriminatory behaviour is not tolerated and is actively challenged.
Our global curriculum promotes cultural diversity, with themes that encourage empathy and awareness.

Rule of Law

Our “Five School Rules” are consistently reinforced and understood by all.
Pupils learn to distinguish right from wrong and the importance of laws in school and wider society.
We work with local services such as the police and fire service to deepen understanding.
Year 6 pupils take part in the DARE programme, focusing on legal and ethical choices.

Anti-racist Education Programme (A.R.E.P)

Aims of the A.R.E.P Component of Learning

To seek to promote and inspire a sense of belonging, inclusion and social justice for our children, staff and the wider community
To be certain it is understood that racism in any form has no place in our society
To ensure our education system provides an opportunity for learning, discussion and building confidence in pupils and staff to help eradicate racism.

Over the past six weeks, a group of our Year 6 pupils have had the opportunity to take part in the A.R.E.P. programme, guided by Deepa Vasudevan from Nottinghamshire’s Achievement and Equality Team. Their effort, maturity and commitment have been outstanding, and we are incredibly proud of all they have achieved.

Through the programme, pupils explored issues around prejudice and discrimination, discussing examples they have seen or heard and developing a clearer understanding of why certain language is considered racist and inappropriate. Their thoughtful engagement has been inspiring, and the learning they have gained will stay with them well beyond the project. Some examples of the completed work can be viewed in the images below.

During the Spring term, all pupils from Year 1 to Year 5 will take part in a six-week unit of learning that complements our existing PSHCE curriculum. Every child will engage with the A.R.E.P. component, which builds their understanding of what racism is and supports them in becoming actively anti-racist.

Our school staff have received training from Deepa Vasudevan, the author of this scheme of work and a member of Nottinghamshire’s Achievement and Equality Team.

This anti-racism learning is age-appropriate and delivered through carefully selected books and resources. Pupils will explore similarities and differences, bullying, and racism in a supportive environment that encourages thoughtful discussion. We look forward to seeing this work continue across the school and extend our thanks to Deepa for her invaluable guidance during the launch of the project.

Equality Objectives 2024-2027 To create a school where everybody feels they belong, are respected and included. To have a curriculum that reflects a range of religions, cultures and experiences. To make BHPS a school where everyone feels supported to achieve their full potential.

Equality Act 2010

BHPS Equality Objectives 2024 – 2027

BHPS Equality and Diversity Policy

Show Racism the Red Card

During week beinning 13th April, our school proudly took part in Show Racism the Red Card, a national anti‑racism campaign that uses the power of education, sport and positive role models to challenge racism and promote equality. The campaign encourages children and adults to recognise racism, understand its impact, and actively stand up against it by choosing respect, kindness and fairness.

Learning about anti‑racism in school is essential. It helps children to develop empathy, challenge stereotypes, celebrate diversity and understand that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued and included. By beginning this learning in Foundation Stage, we are laying strong foundations for children to grow into respectful, confident and compassionate citizens who understand their responsibility in creating a fairer world.

Throughout the week, all year groups engaged in thoughtful discussions, creative activities and meaningful lessons, supported by visits from Notts County Football Club, who helped reinforce the message that racism has no place in sport or society.

Show Racism the Red Card Week has been a powerful reminder of the importance of teaching children, from Foundation upwards, how to understand difference, show empathy and stand up for others. We are incredibly proud of the thoughtful attitudes, respectful discussions and mature reflections shown by pupils across the school. Together, we are committed to creating a community where everyone belongs.

Diversity Champion Competition

Design a football boot or football shirt.

This should encourage anti-racism in football.

You can do this by:

~ adding messages or slogans about the importance of diversity and anti racism.

~ creating symbols or pictures to show anti-racism and the celebration of different cultures.

There is space to explain your design on the sheet. Please write your first and last name and your class on the sheet.

Competition sheets can be taken from your class teacher. Please choose one item to design.

The prize….

1st Place – 2x sets of match day tickets for Notts County ‘v’ Bristol Rovers (Saturday 2nd May)

2nd Place – A Notts County Match Shirt

Notts County Community Football Workshops

The Show Racism the Red Card campaign is a UK-based charity that aims to tackle racism through education. It works with schools, youth clubs, and grassroots football teams to educate young people about the dangers of racism and discrimination. The campaign uses football as a vehicle to engage young people, with the aim of promoting social cohesion and equality. Notts County Foundation has a long-standing commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in football and wider society and work with young people in the local community to deliver a range of educational and sporting activities that promote physical and mental wellbeing. The event was a natural fit for the Foundation, given our strong focus on education and community engagement.

Foundation Stage – Belonging and Inclusion

In Foundation, our focus was on belonging. The children explored what it means to feel included and how everyone can help others feel welcome. Through stories such as All Are Welcome, we talked about how we are all special and unique, and how these differences should be celebrated.

The children learnt that they each have their own “superpower” – kindness. They discussed how they can use kind words, kind actions and helping hands to make sure everyone feels happy and included in our classroom community. This early learning is so important, as it helps children understand fairness, empathy and respect from the very start of their school journey.

Year 1 – Celebrating Uniqueness

As part of Show Racism the Red Card Week, Year 1 explored the story My Skin, Your Skin, helping them to understand that race relates to the colour of our skin. The children shared thoughtful ideas, noticing similarities and differences between themselves and celebrating that being different is what makes us special and interesting.

They discussed what racism means and why kindness and respect are always important. The children created self‑portraits to reflect what makes them unique, before working together to produce a class charter. They pledged to make sure everyone feels welcome, valued and included in their classroom, regardless of race.

Year 2 – Respect, Tolerance and Being Anti‑Racist

In Year 2, learning focused on the British Value of respect and tolerance and developing an understanding of what it means to be anti‑racist.

The children read My Skin, Your Skin and reflected on their own strengths and talents, recognising that everyone has something amazing to offer. Through drama activities, they explored what they could say or do if they witnessed racism, building confidence to speak up.

They learnt the difference between being non‑racist and being actively anti‑racist, and worked together to create a class charter. As a culmination of their learning, the children created a powerful display featuring the message:

“When people of all colours come together, we stand tall like a tree.”

This quote beautifully captures the heart of their learning and the importance of unity.

Year 3 – Understanding, Representation and Impact

Year 3 also used My Skin, Your Skin to explore key questions, including:

What makes your skin special or unique?
How might someone feel if they were treated differently because of their skin?
What can we do to ensure everyone feels included and respected?
What should you do if you hear someone say something unkind about another person’s skin or background?

The children created double bubbles to show similarities and differences between themselves, reinforcing the message that difference should be valued.

In a second session, pupils explored representation in the media, discussing why it is important for people from all backgrounds to be seen in stories. They designed and described characters they would like to see represented more often.

A visit from Notts County FC helped deepen their understanding of stereotyping, including how even “positive” stereotypes can still cause harm. Finally, an activity on hate speech – crumpling and flattening paper – powerfully demonstrated how words can leave lasting damage.

Year 4 – Challenging Bias and Being Upstanders

Year 4 took part in a series of powerful lessons exploring racism, stereotyping and empathy. Through My Skin, Your Skin, they learnt why people have different skin colours and how identity, faith and background make each person unique.

Children reflected on their own strengths and discussed how to ensure everyone feels respected. They explored the long‑term impact of hurtful words and learnt how to be upstanders, not bystanders. The final session focused on unconscious bias, helping pupils recognise and challenge unfair assumptions.

This learning was further enriched by a visit from Notts County FC. The children contributed mature, thoughtful and insightful comments throughout the week.

Year 5 – Standing Up and Speaking Out

Year 5 had a meaningful Anti‑Racism Week, engaging in discussions about equality, inclusion and respect. A visit from Notts County FC inspired pupils to think about how to “show racism the red card” in everyday life.

The children created their own anti‑racist pledges, reflecting on the positive actions they can take in school and beyond. Alongside this, Year 5 also demonstrated creativity in Music through looping, remixing and body percussion, and began exploring powerful speeches in English, analysing how language can be used to influence and inspire change.

Year 6 – Stereotypes and Respect

During Show Racism the Red Card Week, Year 6 took part in a workshop led by Notts County, focusing on stereotypes. They learnt how stereotypes are formed through assumptions, social media, past experiences and misunderstandings.

The children discussed how stereotypes can be unlearnt and why everyone deserves equality and respect. To conclude the week, they wrote poems to summarise their learning and reflect on the importance of challenging racism.

Alongside this, Year 6 continued their English work on non‑chronological reports and began learning about biomes in Geography, showing excellent focus and maturity.

Festivals and Celebrations at BHPS

Click on the tabs to find out more about some of our special events in school.
Would you like to see more of the work undertaken in school?
Why not pop in and take a look at our Religious Celebrations book, which showcases a range of festivals and celebrations to reflect our rich and diverse school community.

Diwali

As part of our whole-school Diwali celebration, pupils across all year groups deepened their understanding of the Festival of Light and its significance for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. Children learnt about the story of Rama and Sita, explored the themes of good triumphing over evil, and discussed how families prepare for Diwali through cleaning their homes, wearing new clothes and exchanging gifts. Classes investigated how Rangoli patterns and light are used to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, and reflected on the values of hard work, virtue and bravery associated with her blessings.

Festival of Holi

Year 1 immersed themselves in the traditions of India, learning about Jaipur Elephant parade. They worked collaboratively to create their own colour elephants, which were displayed outside during the ‘Colour Run’ event.

Year 3 looked at rangoli designs. These are usually made during festivals and celebrations becuase they are though to bring good luck. Many rangoli designs are symmetrical and include geometric shapes, as well as lots of curved and straight lines.

The community were invited to join our Holi celebration by attending the colour run. This was a fantastic opportunity for families to join together and really capture the essence of the festival.

Guru Nanak - Celebrating Kindness, Equality and Sharing at Our School

Celebrating Kindness, Equality and Sharing at Our School

During Autumn Term (2) our whole school has been exploring the theme “Kindness, Equality and Sharing – The Teachings of Guru Nanak.” Through stories, discussion, creativity and reflection, pupils from EYFS to Year 6 have taken part in a special RE focus designed to deepen their understanding of Sikh beliefs and values.

Across the week, children learned about Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and why his teachings continue to inspire millions of people today. Each phase focused on an age-appropriate concept — from recognising special and kind people in F2, to thinking about how Guru Nanak’s messages can help us make the world fairer in Year 6. Lessons linked directly to our SACRE strands, encouraging pupils to learn about religion, learn from religion, and express their ideas creatively.

Our KS1 assembly introduced children to the story of young Nanak and the “true bargain,” helping them think about how simple acts of kindness can make a big difference.
In KS2, pupils explored how Guru Nanak’s message of equality is still relevant today, reflecting on fairness, inclusion and the importance of treating everyone with respect.

Lunar New Year - The Year of the Dragon

As part of our whole-school celebration of Lunar New Year, each year group learnt about the festival and its significance for the Year of the Dragon. School was decorated with lanterns, artefacts and a Dragon’s Head, creating an immersive environment for pupils and visitors. Members of the school community were invited to share their experiences, enriching children’s understanding. The week concluded with a ‘Showcase’ assembly, during which selected pupils from each year group explained what they had learnt. To mark the occasion, the kitchen served a Lunar New Year meal, helping raise awareness of the celebration across the school and within the local community.

Year 2 learnt all about the significance of the dragon in the Lunar New Year celebrations. They even created their our dragon dance. Click on the link below to view it.

Ramadan Mubarak

During our whole-school Ramadan Day, pupils developed a meaningful understanding of Ramadan as a month of prayer, reflection and charity. Following assemblies introducing the significance of the period, each year group explored key themes at an age-appropriate level, including why Muslims fast, the importance of community, and the values of gratitude and kindness. Children learnt about how families prepare for Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr, and discussed the significance of the sun and moon in marking the lunar calendar. Across the school, pupils contributed to our Gratitude Tree by writing personal reflections on what they were thankful for, helping them recognise and appreciate the ‘small things’ often taken for granted. Year-group activities included creative art responses, good-deed calendars, and reflections on the impact of charity, strengthening pupils’ understanding of compassion and generosity. Community members were welcomed to share their experiences, and the week concluded with a showcase newsletter highlighting the rich learning that took place across the school.

Passover

As part of our whole-school learning focus on the story of Moses, pupils in every year group explored key themes from the narrative Foundation Stage children learnt about the idea of protection, discussing how baby Moses was kept safe by being placed in a basket on the river. In Years 1 and 2, pupils studied the moment Moses encountered the burning bush and reflected on how he trusted and obeyed God; they linked this to the school rule “follow instructions first time” and produced writing and artwork to deepen their understanding. Years 3 and 4 investigated the theme of slavery through the events of the ten plagues. Year 3 explored what life might have been like for an enslaved Hebrew, writing from the perspective of someone living through that experience, while Year 4 considered Moses’ and Pharaoh’s contrasting viewpoints through conscience-alley drama. In Years 5 and 6, pupils explored the theme of freedom, discussing what freedom means to them and linking this to the significance of Passover. They created poems expressing ideas of liberation within the story and their own lives, with Year 6 also engaging in thoughtful discussion about the importance of living respectfully in a multi-faith society.