British Values
British Values
As a school we promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. We want our students to take responsibility in using these core British Values principles throughout everyday school life. In actively promoting the values, this means challenging the opinions or behaviours in school that are contrary to core British values.
Through our provision, we will:
- 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 our promotion of fundamental British values.
- 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 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.
- 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 behaviour.
- an understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination. It is not necessary for schools or individuals to ‘promote’ teachings, beliefs, or opinions that conflict with their own, but nor is it acceptable for schools to promote discrimination against people or groups on the basis of their belief, opinion or background.