British Values
Within our Trust we recognise, not only the importance of helping students to flourish academically but also spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, so they are fully prepared for life in British society and for their role as citizens, able to make the strongest possible contribution to the Common Good of all.
How do we teach British Values?
At St Elizabeth’s, we take very seriously our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain. We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through our curriculum and programme of personal development, which infuses the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and, in particular, our RE, PSHE and RSHE lessons provide excellent opportunities to deepen and develop understanding. Children embrace these concepts with enthusiasm and demonstrate a good understanding of their application to their own lives. Their strong-rooted values-based understanding gives them an excellent platform for embracing difference.
‘British Values’ have been identified as:
Democracy
The ability to communicate is one of the most important area of learning. At St Elizabeth’s, we ensure that pupils are given a ‘voice’ to communicate and to understand that their voice matters. We empower our pupils by giving them opportunities to make choices about the things that they believe to be important. By valuing each ‘voice’ and by listening and responding to that voice, we demonstrate that we support democracy and liberty.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the academy, the Trust, or the country, is consistently reinforced throughout every day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through Acts of Worship. The curriculum is designed to ensure students are taught the values and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.
Individual Liberty
Students are actively encouraged to make independent choices knowing that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. We educate and provide boundaries for students to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. We encourage students to see themselves as unique individuals able to make a unique contribution to building community. Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights, responsibilities and personal freedoms and receive advice about how to exercise these safely.
Mutual Respect
Respect is a core value for each of our academies and is modelled by pupils and staff alike. We promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning environments as well as extra-curricular activities such as sport. In line with our commitment to democracy, students are always able to voice their opinions as we foster an environment where pupils can debate ideas and are safe to disagree with each other. We encourage students to substantiate opinions and to realise the value of co-operation and consensus as well as
decision making through voting. Our emphasis on ethics, fairness and justice means that we ask our students to ensure that they look out for those who might be marginalised and disadvantaged. We take a strong stance on social inclusion and anti-bullying through an explicit focus on strategies to enable respect for difference.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
This is achieved through equipping students with the ability to develop positive values, understand their own beliefs and their place in a culturally diverse society. We give our students opportunities to experience such diversity within the Academy Trust community and within the wider community. All students experience a connection with other cultures and beliefs through our Religious Education programme Our Religious Studies curriculum follows the teaching of the Church in providing a broad and balanced education, which includes an understanding of and respect for people of other faiths or none and other religions, cultures and lifestyles.
Supporting documents
Link to government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/guidance-on-promoting-british-values-inschools-published
Glossary of terms and abbreviations in this policy
The term “Trust” refers throughout to the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust and any Academy within the Trust.
