Promoting British Values

Promoting British Values at

Clare Mount Specialist Sports College

The DfE have recently 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.”

Clare Mount Specialist Sports College is committed to serving its community. We recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. We also understand the vital role we have in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.

We follow equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. Clare Mount Specialist Sports College is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal, examined curriculum and ensuring that we promote and reinforce British values to all our students.

At Clare Mount Specialist Sports College these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy:

Democracy can be seen as a state of society characterised by equality of rights and privileges. It can also refer to our nation’s electoral systems.

In our school we promote the importance of democracy through such things as:

Students’ involvement in democratic processes where they have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and Pupil Questionnaires.
School Council representatives are elected by their peers and have a responsibility to report back to the rest of their form.
The School Council has regular meetings, council members are encouraged to take ownership of the meetings, to contribute ideas and make bring back decisions to the rest of the school.
Students are involved in the staff recruitment process.
There is a fair and consistent Behaviour Policy with agreed rewards and sanctions.
Students are encouraged to consider and choose differentiated learning opportunities in lessons.
The Democracy and Diversity strand of the Life Skills, PSHE and PSD programmes, focusing on topics such as MPs, voting systems, combating bullying and discrimination, as well as contemporary political issues.
Our strong adherence to our Equality and Diversity Policy and objectives in line with the Equality Act 2010.
Parental and Carer questionnaires enable their views to be shared and heard.

The Rule of Law:

All people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.

The importance of laws and rules, whether they be those that govern the country, the school, or the classroom, are consistently reinforced through the school’s Rules, throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour, and through school assemblies. Students are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when rules and laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

The students are taught how rules and laws are there to protect us; keeping us safe. They acknowledge their responsibility to uphold rules and laws, and understand the consequences when laws are broken.

In our school we promote the importance of the Rule of Law through such things as:

The School’s Rules and Behaviour Policy.
Zone boards which are used to reinforce school rules.
Student reflecting regularly on their learning during lessons and their behaviour during assemblies.
Annual Parent / Carers questionnaires include questions which relate to behaviour, safety etc.
Assemblies throughout the year which make links to the law. For example, school rules, Anti-bullying Week and E-safety help Students to understand how to behave towards each other and how to be safe.
Marking and feedback and homework policies which set clear boundaries, which are explained clearly to students and staff.
Accountability, which is stressed to all, including staff (Teacher’s Standards and Appraisal) and students (The School Rules).
Life Skills, PSHE and PSD programmes, which focus on many topics including Democracy, Anti-Discrimination, Relationships and Sexual Health education and Drugs education.
The close working relationships we have with the local Police as part of our pastoral care.

Individual Liberty:

Individual liberty suggests the free exercise of rights generally seen as outside Government control.

Within school, students are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for students to make choices safety, through of provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are given advice on how to exercise these safely, for example, through our Life Skills, PSHE and PSD lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, or of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, students are given the freedom to make choices.

In our school we promote the importance of the Individual Liberty through such things as:

A range of daily lunchtime school activities that are offered, as well as the Community Sports Night on a Wednesday after school, when students are given the freedom to choose which ones they would like to attend.
Opportunities to participate in events within the community or with other schools or sporting events.
Demonstration by students, within the school and in the community, a clear understanding of the high expectations of behaviour.
Taking responsibility by volunteering to be a member of the School Council and Eco-Council, as well as IT monitors, Door Monitors and Sports Leaders, helping their fellow students.
Parental and Carer Questionnaires are given out at every opportunity, such as Parents/Carer Evenings and Annual Reviews, in which they are able to share their views and any concerns, as well as the values they think are important.
The use of Christian Values each term as a focus for assemblies e.g. respect, forgiveness, truthfulness, responsibility.
Valuing and celebrating students work and progress through displays in classrooms, the hall and around the school.
Student participation in whole school Remembrance Day assemblies.
Encouragement to participate in charitable events e.g. Students in Need, Sport Relief, NSPCC, Comic Relief, and various charities, etc.
Our robust and clear Anti-bullying culture and Behaviour Policy for all students and staff, which allows the opportunity for individual choices in a safe and supportive environment.
The Life Skills, PSHE and PSD programmes focus on areas such as managing risks, financial wellbeing and careers.
Active encouragement to express views and opinions in lessons in a formative manner.
Offering students choices for their future academic pathways as they move from KS4 to KS5 and beyond.
Opportunities for freedom of speech and expression through mediums such as the School Council and student-led assemblies.

Mutual Respect:

The proper regard for an individual’s dignity, which is reciprocated.

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and Students have been a part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy.

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Students learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. Students develop an understanding of tolerance and mutual respect. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

At our school we promote the importance of mutual respect through such things as:

A balanced curriculum that keeps a wide range of life opportunities for our students.
Strong Life Skills, PSHE and PSD education provision allow planned opportunities to develop topics such as personal identity, anti-bullying, Discrimination, Relationships, emotional health, gender and career stereotypes, Human Rights, etc. These lessons enable students to develop a greater understanding of themselves, those around them, and those in our local community.
Positive relationships encouraged and modelled throughout the school i.e. child to child, adult to child, and adult to adult.
Our Religious Education scheme of learning enables students to learn not only knowledge but also develop an understanding of the world of religion and how beliefs impact on daily lives. This helps develop tolerance and mutual respect for religious viewpoints.
Celebration Evenings, where students show respect for achievement.
Annual Anti-bullying Week and E-safety lessons explore how our behaviours affect others.
Promotion of ‘fair play’ in PE and Sport sessions
Clear expectations of good behaviour in all facets of school life.
A culture that promotes the core values that students take responsibility for their actions and recognise the implications of negative behaviour on others.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

A fair, objective, and permissive attitude to those whose faith and beliefs may differ from one’s own.

This is achieved through enhancing students’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE, Life Skills, PSHE and PSD. The school runs events, such as the ‘European Week of Languages’ and ‘British Values and School of Sanctuary Week’, which help develop students’ tolerance to those from other countries, as well as celebrating being British.

Our Religious Education scheme of learning throughout the school involves the students learning both knowledge and understanding of the different world religions and how these beliefs impact on daily lives. Christianity as the main religion of the indigenous population, is taught alongside Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. Celebration of festivals throughout the year e.g. Diwali, Chinese New Year, Hanukah.

In our school we promote the importance of tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs through such things as:

Learning about and celebrating being British, and the understanding that Britain is a multi-cultural country.
Religious Studies taught to all students across all key stages.
The Life Skills, PSHE and PSD education programmes focus on cultural identity, equality & discrimination, and human rights.
External faith speakers invited into assemblies.
Reflection opportunities in assemblies.
Opportunities to taste and make food from around the world.

British Values Week

During the week we had our PSHE week and our theme was ‘Promoting British Values’. During the week we hosted a number of activities, such as:

Whole school Assembly to launch British Values Week
Form time was dedicated to learning about British Values
Life Skills and PSHE lessons helped students understand British Values
Students created their own placemat for the forthcoming ‘Street Party’
Students took part in Clare Mount’s British Values Key Ring competition
Balloting for Student Council Form Representatives

It was a fantastic week, culminating in an indoor Street Party for students and staff, which was highly enjoyed by all.