British Values

In accordance with The Department for Education, we aim to celebrate the diversity of the UK and ensure that our school ethos, curriculum and approaches to teaching and learning actively reflect and promote British values in school.  

We see these values as the method of creating an orderly society in which individual members can feel safe, valued and can contribute to for the good of themselves and others. 

British values are regularly promoted through high quality teaching, a carefully planned programme of assemblies and a positive behaviour policy.  This provision allows students to develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in, and contribute positively to, life in modern Britain.  As well as teaching our students, our active promotion of these values also means that we challenge students, staff or parents who express contrary opinions. 

Students are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and 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 Key Values are: 

  • Democracy
  • Rule of law 
  • Individual liberty 
  • Mutual respect 
  • Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

British values are promoted at Great Oaks in the following ways: 

Democracy

  • By providing pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promoting respect for, public institutions and services. 
  • Teaching pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process. 
  • Including in the curriculum information on the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain. 
  • Encouraging the pupils to become involved in the decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school. 
  • Holding `mock elections’ so pupils learn how to argue and defend points of view. 
  • Helping pupils to express their views. 
  • Teaching pupils how public services operate and how they are held to account. 
  • Modelling how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged.  

Rule of Law

  • Ensuring school rules and expectations are clear and fair. 
  • Helping pupils to distinguish right from wrong. 
  • Helping pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made. 
  • Helping pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals. 
  • Teaching pupils aspects of both civil and criminal law and discuss how this might differ from some religious laws. 
  • Developing restorative justice approaches to resolving conflicts. 

Individual Liberty

  • Supporting pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. 
  • Encouraging pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights. 
  • Modelling freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils and promoting critical analysis of evidence. 
  • Challenging stereotypes. 
  • Implementing a strong anti-bullying culture. 

Mutual Respect

  • Helping pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and others’ culture and ways of life. 
  • Promoting respect for individual differences. 
  • Challenging prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour. 
     

Tolerance of those with different faiths & beliefs

  • Developing initial 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, as well as wealth and the distribution of wealth and support from the government through funding