British Values

Through their provision of SMSC, schools should:

• Enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
• Enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
• Encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;
• Enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
• Further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
• Encourage respect for other people;
• Encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

The list below describes the understanding and knowledge expected of pupils as a result of schools promoting fundamental British values:

1. An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
2. An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety;
3. An understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence;
4. An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
5. 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 behaviour;
6. An understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.

The school’s SMSC provision also includes the following:

• Daily collective worship: this focuses on the school’s core values of commitment; community; choice; creativity; compassion and contemplation. These values also underpin the school’s RE curriculum.
• The Rights Respecting League: this is a thriving part of the school community and is engaged in decision-making with members of staff across many aspects of school life. This supports the school’s work in promoting the UN
• Convention on the Rights of the Child. All children have the opportunity to participate in the election of candidates and see democracy in practice.
• The concept of friendship across age groups is enhanced through the use of the ‘Partners’ approach.
• Visiting speakers in school who are able to offer new perspectives on the school’s values. We are currently building links with a range of faiths at present to enhance this area of our provision.
• A positive behaviour policy which has rules and the importance of these at the centre. This also includes a House system which encourages collaboration and teamwork within the school.

Please see our ‘Curriculum’ section for further information.