British Values

Promoting British values is about promoting a set of attitudes and behaviours that will support students' development into active and engaged citizens who are prepared for the experiences, challenges and responsibilities of life and are able to make a full, positive and active contribution to society. Actively promoting British values also means challenging opinions and behaviours that are contrary to fundamental British values including a lack of respect for others or for rules.

We recognise that these values are not exclusive to being British and that they have come to be accepted throughout the democratic world as the method of creating an orderly society in which individual members can feel safe, valued and can contribute for the good of themselves and others.

We understand the role our Academy has in helping prevent radicalisation and supporting our students in developing a world view recognising Britain's place within it.

Promoting British values is not a bolt-on activity but is part of our whole Academy climate and ethos. Promoting British values does not sit in one subject; they are promoted through classroom practice and pedagogy across the curriculum, through our assembly programme, Personal Development and SMSC Days, extra-curricular provision and enrichment activities and the pastoral system. Through these planned opportunities, all students are able to:

Through the ethos of our Academy, we encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, to 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.

Democracy

Student voice is a key driving force within the Academy; all students have the opportunity as an individual, as a member of a tutor group and within subject areas, to influence decision making and to have a voice. Students understand that they must use this voice responsibly.

Students have opportunities in all subjects to work in groups, participate in activities, formulate views and ideas, listen to each other and respectfully disagree where appropriate.

All students are regularly consulted and have the opportunity to have their voice heard through questionnaires and focus groups within curriculum areas, within the pastoral system and with the Governing Body. Our 'You said... We did ...' approach to responding to student voice allows students to see the democratic process in operation.

Students within the Academy have key roles and responsibilities. Members of our school council are democratically elected by their peers, as are our Head Boy and Head Girl. Students holding leadership posts understand that they are accountable to the Academy community for the way in which they carry out these roles.

The extra-curricular offer is student-led. Each term, students identify the opportunities they would like to participate in as the starting point for the development of our extra-curricular provision.

Through our assembly programme and Personal Development and SMSC Day workshops, students are able to consider how democracy and the law works in Britain and contrast this to other forms of government in other countries. General or local elections are used to provide students with the opportunity to learn how to argue and defend points of view and to host mock elections.

Assemblies delivered by local MPs and by prestigious guest speakers from the Peers in Schools and Speakers in Schools programmes have provided invaluable insights into the UK political system. The principle of democracy is further explored in Lifeskills, History and RE lessons.

The Rule of Law

Students in our Academy understand the need for rules in order to establish a happy, orderly and secure environment. Our behaviour policy is shared and understood with all key stakeholders and provides a basis on which we discuss other laws and rules.

An understanding of the importance of rules is consistently reinforced through our reward system, our assemblies, our curriculum, our extra-curricular and enrichment provision and our Academy ethos. 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.

We work closely with our local community police officers, the fire service and other external partners to explore the rule of law.

Across the curriculum and during Personal Development and SMSC Day workshops, students are offered a range of opportunities to interact with members of the wider community including police, war veterans, the fire brigade and local magistrates; covering topics such as crime, safety, anti-social behaviour, extremism and Hate crime.

Opportunities within PE, extra-curricular activities and the Academy House System, promote 'fair play' and inclusion; the importance of following and developing rules; of rewarding and celebrating success as well as being magnanimous in defeat; whilst encouraging participation in activities that promote teamwork and healthy competition.

Lessons in Lifeskills, Business and IT include discussion around digital footprints, data protection and online safety.

Individual Liberty

The rights of every students are at the centre of our ethos. However, students must also recognise the boundaries there must be too.

Within the Academy, students are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Through our LifeSkills curriculum and Personal Development and SMSC Day workshops, we encourage students to explore their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely.

Across all subjects, independent thinking and learning are encouraged and there are frequent opportunities for students to grow in maturity and independence. We place an emphasis on respecting difference and valuing creativity.

Students have key roles within the Academy with a wide range of leadership opportunities open to all students ranging from digital leaders to events management. Peer Mentors and Lead Students support fellow students in making the right choices.

Students are encouraged to make their own choices about their participation in extra-curricular clubs and enrichment opportunities based on their talents, needs and interests.

Mutual Respect

Our school ethos is based around our Core Values which include 'Respect'. All members of the Academy treat each other with respect. We recognise the importance of not only respecting one another but also of self-respect. This is reiterated through our classroom expectations, as well as our rewards and behaviour policy. Students learn how their behaviour has an impact on themselves and also on others.

We have a clear Anti-Bullying policy which emphasises the importance of creating an environment both within the Academy and the wider world in which individuals can feel safe and valued.

Topics such as equality and healthy relationships are covered within the LifeSkills curriculum and during Personal Development and SMSC Days with the support of external agencies such as Diversity Role Models, HumanKind and Show Racism the Red Card.

As an Academy we recognise and participate in national and international days which promote peace, respect and understanding including National Holocaust Day, Black History Month, Diversity Month and UN Tolerance Day.

Our RE curriculum covers all the main faith groups; looking at various aspects of different religious beliefs to help students to develop greater understanding and tolerance.

Our extracurricular and enrichment activities focus on building self-esteem and self-respect. They also include teambuilding and leadership activities. Our links with local primary schools enable our students to work with younger children on specific projects and support their transition to secondary school.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs (including none)

We celebrate difference and diversity and aim to create an understanding of how this adds to the richness of our community.

We believe that exploring and understanding other people's faiths and beliefs are rewarding experiences. At the Academy we strongly believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. This is achieved through enhancing students understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by providing them with a wealth of opportunities to experience diversity.

We regularly welcome visitors and speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds to our Academy. For example, workshops on Personal Development and SMSC Days allow students to explore different religions and beliefs as well as interact with individuals from different faiths. All year groups work with Show Racism the Red Card to challenge stereotypes and to explore attitudes towards immigration and life in multi-cultural Britain.

Our RE curriculum teaches about a range of faiths, beliefs and cultures.