British Values

British Values is about "helping people to understand how things work and how to challenge and change them".

Impact on pupils:

  • Understanding how citizens can influence decision making through a democratic process.

  • Appreciating that living with a rule of law protects individuals and is essential for their well-being and safety.

  • Freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law.

  • Acceptance and tolerance of other people having different faiths and beliefs.

  • Understand the importance of identifying and combating discrimination.

  • Understand that the public bodies such as the police and army are accountable to Parliament but others such as the courts are independent.

School should support pupils to:

  • Have high standards of behaviour and to develop their understanding of right and wrong.

  • Take responsibility for their actions and understand the consequences of their actions.

  • Contribute to an ethos of mutual respect throughout the whole school environment.

  • Participate in a democratic process and understand this process sand the role of public institutions.

  • Develop their understanding and appreciation of wider issues such as cultural differences and disabilities via Cross curricular days.

Examples are:

  • Assertive Mentoring.

  • Explicit rewards procedure that celebrates success Behaviour incident log and regular contact with parents.

  • Vertical Form groups.

  • English: Political Parties Unit.

  • Science: Cloning/Stem cell research, IVF.

  • History: Civil War, First Parliament.

  • Key Skills — Year 7: Democracy Day, Voting for all aspects of the lesson.

  • Cross-Curricular Day (Great British Inventions & Discoveries and Britain at War).

  • Big Form Debate (Weekly topic for forms to debate).

  • Big Form Debate inter-house competition

  • Music: UK and English Folk music, Irish Folk music, Blues Music Charity Work.

  • Music performances in the local community

  • Whole School Christmas Song in which every pupil and member of staff takes part.

  • E-Safety programme.

  • Assembly programme.

  • Active school council.

  • Pupil voice and staff voice.

The Wordsley School is working, through its school ethos and curriculum, to secure the following British values.

Democracy

  • The School and curriculum provides pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services.

  • We teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process. Through Citizenship pupils are taught about the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain.

  • Pupils are encouraged to become involved in decision-making processes and the school ensures that they are listened to in school e.g. school council, pupil voice etc.

  • The school holds elections for the School council during which pupils learn how to express, argue and defend points of view.

  • The school curriculum and ethos also teaches pupils how we can peacefully challenge perceived injustice

Rule of Law

As a school we ensure that the school rules and expectations are clear and fair. The school’s ethos and curriculum play a significant role in helping the pupils:

  • To distinguish right from wrong and to respect the law and the basis on which it is made.

  • To understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.

  • Through police visits to school via both assemblies and curriculum activities.

  • Through pupils being taught about civil and criminal law; in addition, we look at how this may differ from some religious laws.

Individual Liberty

Through the school ethos and curriculum we:

  • Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.

  • Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights.

  • Model freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils and promoting critical analysis of evidence.

  • Challenge stereotypes.

  • Implement a strong anti-bullying culture.

Respect & Tolerance

Through the school ethos and curriculum we:

  • Promote respect for individual difference.

  • Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.

  • Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

  • Develop links with faith communities.

  • Develop critical personal thinking skills.

  • Discuss differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as looked-after children or young carers.


FOR MORE INFORMATION

Mr A Fisher, Assistant Headteacher, is responsible for our British Values and SMSC provision. He can be contacted through reception on (01384) 816015.