British Values

Our children are introduced to the concept of “democracy” and “the majority vote” from a young age, participating in Student Council elections (where representatives are elected by way of a democratic process) and engaging in a wide range of discussions concerning issues that directly affect them. Pupil voice is considered to be of utmost importance, and members of the School Council are encouraged to vote on key issues that are likely to affect their classmates, as well as bringing their own proposals to staff for consideration.

Children who are appointed to leadership roles are taught how to effectively represent their classmates and the importance of considering everybody’s viewpoint when making an informed decision and reaching a common consensus. Such children must demonstrate civic, moral and performance character in order to command the respect of – and act as an advocate for – their peers.

Children are encouraged to become politically aware from a young age and participate in debates concerning age-appropriate issues, developing arguments for and against carefully-chosen topics. In doing so, they learn how to put forward a strong case for causes they believe in (an essential part of the democratic process), as well as how to employ both facts and emotion in order to resonate with other people.

Democracy is also studied as part of the wider curriculum, where clear contrasts are drawn between democratic and autocratic states, and the inextricable links between democracy, fairness and equality. These issues are also explored in English Literature, where the importance of democracy and/or freedom of speech often crops up as an explicit or underlying theme in texts studied by children.

We believe it is important for pupils to understand why rules are in place, the purpose that they serve, and the consequences of breaking them. We are keen to create an environment where children are able to clearly distinguish between right and wrong; and do the right thing because they want to, not simply because they feel compelled to. A key part of achieving this is through helping children to understand that rules are essential in order to safeguard their wellbeing, protect the welfare of others, and ensure that everybody has the opportunity to fully achieve their potential. We also teach them to understand the relationship between cause and effect and the importance of taking responsibility for their own actions, which is vital to becoming a productive and upstanding member of society.

Children quickly grow to understand that the rules that govern their school are microcosms of the laws that govern the workplace and, ultimately, society. Clear correlations are drawn between school rules and the rules that children encounter in their day-to-day lives, so children are fully aware that there are actions and behaviours which are prohibited and punishable in all contexts.

In order to ensure that children respect our rules, we take care to apply them fairly and consistently so that boundaries – and the repercussions of overstepping them – are clearly defined. We have an explicit Code of Conduct and Home-School Agreement, as well as robust Anti-Bullying, Attendance, and Behaviour Policies. Our high expectations with regard to behaviour are also regularly reinforced during assemblies and class time. Children are rewarded and celebrated for exemplary behaviour, attendance and academic performance. Those who frequently break the rules, meanwhile, are subject to appropriate sanctions.

We also organise visits from individuals in the legal and judicial sectors, police officers, members of the Fire Service, and road safety officers to reinforce the importance of respecting rules and the repercussions of breaking them.

We are committed to keeping our children safe, happy and well, and we empower them to make sensible and informed choices by providing guidance on a range of key topics, such as online safety, bullying, child sexual exploitation, physical and emotional abuse, radicalisation and extremism – all of which are built into the pastoral curriculum in an age-appropriate and sensitive manner. These issues are also explored in assemblies, interactive workshops and during PSHE and Citizenship lessons.

Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to recognise when these are being violated, and what to do/who to approach if they are concerned about this.

We also understand that our children must make their own choices and learn from their own mistakes as part of establishing their identity as individuals, and we encourage them to do so within the context of a supportive, positive and non-judgmental environment, where developing their self-esteem and self-confidence is of primary importance. Children are encouraged to make independent choices, resist peer pressure, and take responsibility for their own actions.

All of our children are valued for their individual talents and contributions and are encouraged to pursue their specific areas of interest through a variety of enrichment, sporting and leadership activities. We encourage children to see themselves as unique individuals, able to make a unique contribution to society, whilst also emphasising the importance of teamwork in achieving their goals.

Lessons are designed to provide sufficient challenge and the children are encouraged to engage in independent learning during lesson time and as part of their homework activities.

Being ‘Thoughtful’ is one of our curriculum values, and we define this as ‘fostering a caring environment within school’. But we also want them to understand their role in society and develop respect towards the environment, communities and religions. This is evidenced in the charity work and community projects our pupils undertake for the benefit of people who are experiencing the effects of food poverty, loneliness and isolation; our zero-tolerance approach to bullying; the strong sense of community and camaraderie felt by all of our children; and the high standards that characterise our teaching and learning environments.

Children are encouraged to communicate openly and honestly, and to listen to – and respect – the views of others, even in instances where disagreements arise. We expect all children in leadership roles, as well as our staff members, to model exemplary behaviour and conduct themselves in a manner that commands the respect worthy of someone in a position of authority.

Assemblies and class work are designed to highlight the diverse nature of British society and the right for each person to be respected for their choices. We teach children that they should never judge a person, and encourage them to become compassionate, open-minded and accepting.

We aim to promote not only tolerance, but also a genuine understanding of different faiths and beliefs by offering a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions of the world are studied and respected.

We encourage all children to embrace the culturally diverse society in which they live, and by giving children opportunities to experience this diversity first-hand – through organising a range of interfaith activities and providing opportunities for children to undertake civic projects in their local communities – children are able to meet and work alongside people from a range of backgrounds and beliefs.

Our Religious Studies curriculum, which is compulsory for all children, provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. Members of different faiths or religions are also invited to school to share their knowledge and enhance learning within assemblies and in class. ‘Language of the Month’ provides children with the opportunity to share their own ethnicity with others across the school.

British values are ingrained in everything we do and represent all that we strive to achieve in our vision to nurture today’s young people and inspire tomorrow’s leaders.

We encourage our children to live a life characterised and enriched by the values of Hardworking, Resilient, A Communicator, Thoughtful and Knowledgeable, and we hope that these tenets will continue to inform their choices, actions and behaviours long after they leave school, enabling them to make a positive impact on society.