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 and 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

  • Pupil Parliament
  • 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: Does Richard III deserve the reputation of being evil?
  • 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).
  • Music: UK and English Folk music, Irish Folk music, Blues Music.
  • Music performances in the local community
  • E-Safety programme.
  • Assembly programme.
  • Pupil Receptionist Programme.
  • Pupil voice and staff voice.

 

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

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Democracy

  • The School and curriculum promotes and provides pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and 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. Pupil Parliament, pupil voice etc.
  • The school holds elections for the Pupil Parliament during which pupils learn how to express, argue and defend points of view.
  • The school curriculum ethos and co-curricular activities, such as Big Form Debate, also teaches pupils how we can peacefully challenge perceived ideas and injustice through active communication.

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.
Accessibility

School Closure

To keep staff and pupils safe, please note that The Wordsley School will be closed today Wednesday 20th November 2024 due to snow and icy conditions on site.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.