Our Commitment to Promoting Fundamental British Values

Although advice on British Values, from the DfE is non-statutory, Biddulph High School has obligations under section 78 of the Education Act (2002), as part of a broad and balanced curriculum, to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of our students. We believe that we should seek to actively promote fundamental British values in our school.

There are a number of key values that we have always sought to promote. These are:

Democracy

The principle of democracy is consistently being reinforced here with democracy processes being used for important decisions within the school community, for instance, an active School Council and 6th Form Junior and senior Prefect system, Form and Sport Leaders and student parliament members’ The principle of democracy is also explored in the History and Religious studies curriculum as well as in form time and assemblies.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, consistently are reinforced here. Students are taught the rules and expectations of the school which are highlighted on the student code of conduct and student expectations. Visits from authorities such as the police and Fire Service reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

All of our students are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Staff provide boundaries for students to ” make informed choices” through a safe environment and an empowering education. Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised on how to exercise these safely, for example through e-safety, Progress Tutor work and our enrichment curriculum. Our robust anti-bullying and anti- discrimination culture and comprehensive Behaviour Policy means that the well-being of our students is prioritised.

Mutual Respect

Respect is central to what we do here. Students learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect and this is reiterated through its teaching and learning environments. Our charity work is particularly important to us.

Our students tell us that:

• “Charity is greatly important to us as it shows our compassion for others, not only in the raising of money but also in events designed to enrich the life of others. This has been evidenced in our participation in the Staffordshire Challenge”
• “We believe that charity events are significant in helping students engage and understand others and support our community”
• “We partake in charity work to encourage a greater cohesiveness and wider understanding” (Senior Prefect Team)

Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum by providing the opportunity for students to express their views in a safe environment. Students work as peer mentors, subject ambassadors, and complete work experience in both Year 10 and throughout their time in the Sixth Form. This develops their respect for others and ensures that they individual responsibility and independence.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

This is achieved though equipping students with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving the opportunities to experience such diversity within the school community. Students benefit from RESPECT conferences, a number of international visitors, including students from other continents and cultures. Additionally, students are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school and celebrate festivities throughout the calendar year. The Religious Studies curriculum, which is compulsory for all students up to the end of KS4, provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. We have a partnership link with a local multi-cultural school and students visit us to discuss their lives with our students during our enrichment programme. We take every opportunity to celebrate diversity and promote tolerance so that all students build successful lives and make a positive contribution to our Society.

Our school will promote students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development and by ensuring this development, we will be demonstrating our commitment to actively promoting fundamental British values.

In developing this statement we have been mindful of:

• The Prevent Strategy
• The Teachers Standards
• The Equality Act 2010 Advice for Schools

We will enable our students to understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law. The ethos and teaching of our schools, which we will make parents aware of, will support the rule of English civil and criminal law and we will not teach anything that undermines it. In our teaching about religious law, we will take particular care to explore the relationship between state and religious law. Students will be made aware of the difference between the law of our land and religious law.

Through our provision of SMSC, we will:

• Enable our students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
• Enable our students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
• Encourage our 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 our students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
• Further develop tolerance and harmony between our country’s different cultural traditions by enabling our students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
• Encourage respect for other people; and 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.

We will develop our students understanding and knowledge so that they have:

• 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 combatting discrimination.

Biddulph High School is committed to serving its community. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. It also understands the vital role it has 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 also seek to guarantee that there is no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. We are dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that our schools promote and reinforce British values to all our students. We strive to ensure that our students leave with the strongest foundation of values upon which to build a successful life and a successful contribution to our Society.