British Values

A culture built upon freedom and equality, where everyone is aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Pupils also experience democratic processes through form elections, pupil voice and opportunities to join working parties to help move the school forward.

The citizenship curriculum in Beliefs and Values enables our students to learn about how democracy works, and what this looks like in the UK.  They learn about human rights, and how to protect human rights in the UK and beyond.  Year 10s take part in a mock election, where they learn about the political parties, have visits from representatives, understand the voting system and cast their vote.

An understanding of the need for rules to make a happy, safe and secure environment to live and work.  Distinguishing right from wrong e.g. moral education/good vs evil. Respecting the civil and criminal law in England e.g. what the law is and how we should follow it, how laws have developed.

Pupils understand that their actions have consequences and why it is important to make moral choices, this is reflected in our behaviour policy.

Within Beliefs and Values we explore different behaviours and examples of criminal behaviour (e.g. the law within relationships and sexual activity, laws on drugs, county lines). Pupils develop an understanding on how laws are made and what role we can play in changing the law through their citizenship education.

Within PE, students are encouraged to work within guidelines of good sportspersonship in every activity, for example being gracious in defeat.

Enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence e.g. student voice, students involved in planning.

Students are supported throughout school to develop their confidence and an understanding of how they can contribute in positive ways to modern British life. This is through our Qualities, attitude and habits.

Student voice is used throughout school to empower students to feedback on their education to help make improvements.

In Beliefs and Values pupil explore human rights and how to bring about social change.

Respecting the values, ideas and beliefs of others whilst not imposing our own others.

We aim to foster not only tolerance but also harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures e.g. exposure to other cultures, the anti-racist curriculum, and cultural capital opportunities.

Our policies reflect this value, for example our behaviour and anti-bullying policy.

Through the RS curriculum, pupils can develop acceptance that other people have different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none), and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour e.g. looking at different beliefs, being able to debate issues in a mature way (debate club) and being exposed to people from different faith backgrounds in assemblies and trips.

In other subject areas, for example English, History and MFL pupils are exposed to different beliefs and faith and lessons ensure that this enhances their understanding and therefore respect for others.

We mark important national and international days through activities across the school, for example Black History Month, LGBTQ+ History month & Pride month, Holocaust Memorial day, Day of the Dead and Chinese New Year.  

Our assembly programme ensures that all faiths in our local community are represented through guest speakers.

SMSC stands for Spiritual, moral, social and cultural education.  Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development is the over-arching umbrella that encompasses personal development across the whole curriculum.

We are committed to helping our students to reflect on the kind of people they aspire to be, the kind of world they aspire to create, and ensure development of their spiritual needs, moral understanding, social cohesion and cultural capital.