Promoting British Values
A Commitment to Excellence
The DfE has reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to 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.”
The government set out its definition of British values in the 2015 Prevent Strategy. At our college, these values are reinforced regularly.
As a college, we actively promote British values. They are taught throughout our broad and balanced curriculum, and more explicitly through the teaching of Citizenship, Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE) and Religious Education (RE) programmes.
Our college takes various opportunities to actively promote British Values through collective worship and whole systems and structures such as electing and running our College Council. Actively promoting means that we also challenge anyone who we feel may express opinions that are contrary to the Fundamental British Values (FBV).
At our college, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
Democracy is an important value at our college. Students have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our College Council. Representatives are democratically elected. Surveys of student, staff and parent questionnaires and student forums help to gather opinions about all aspects of college life and influence our College Development Plan. We also actively promote British values by ensuring that our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the college or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the college day. Our system for behaviour is aligned to an agreed set of codes and if students are sanctioned this is always set against the agreed college behaviour code.
Students are asked to identify which aspect of the code they have broken to ensure that this connection is made and understood. Students are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the police, fire service etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
To encourage and promote good behaviour, attitude and work, we have devised a reward system which is consistently followed throughout the college.
We are committed to praising students’ efforts. We endeavour to praise the students informally, individually & during online group collaboration. Students are rewarded not only for achievement in curriculum areas but for a demonstration of good behaviour.
We work in partnership with a wide range of professionals including the Police, the Youth Offending Team and others to help reinforce the messages that some activities are illegal and the consequences there would be.
Individual Liberty
Students are actively encouraged to make choices at our college, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a online college, we provide boundaries for our students to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and planned curriculum. Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety teaching programme. Students are given the freedom to make choices and express their own ideas and viewpoints. We challenge stereotypes in all areas of the curriculum, including opportunities where students develop their understanding of important issues.
Mutual Respect
Our curriculum and ethos promote respect for individual difference. Our curriculum helps our students to acquire an understanding of and respect for their own and other cultures and ways of life. The college marks key events including Interfaith Week and key festivals. It is our policy to challenge any prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour and students would be made aware of the seriousness of such incidents. Staff and students and expected to treat each other with respect.
Tolerance of Those of Different
Faiths and Beliefs
At our college, this is achieved through enhancing students’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity in our local community. Collective worship and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHEE.
We have Interfaith Week where we study other world faiths and learn about their customs, practices and celebrations. We invite members of different faiths to share their knowledge to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding whilst giving them a real experience of a different belief system.