St. Andrew the Apostle School takes very seriously our duty to “promote fundamental British values as part of broader requirements relating to the quality of education and to promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils” (Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales 2015).
Positively promoting British Values will enable us reduce as far as possible the risks of violent and non-violent extremism*.
St. Andrew the Apostle School is committed to serving its community in all its rich diversity. Respect is fundamental to our ethos, and all staff understand that discrimination or harassment for any reasons are unacceptable, especially if linked to protected characteristics such as faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality or disability. Similarly, no group or individual should suffer intimidation by those wishing to unduly or illegally influence them.
The school is also committed to equipping students with the tools they need to keep themselves safe outside school and preparing our students for adult life.
The government defined British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and the Prevent Duty Guidance from
2015:
1. Democracy
2. The rule of law
3. Individual liberty
4. Mutual respect
5.
Tolerance of
those of different faiths and beliefs
Staff take every opportunity to reinforce these British Values and to model them in what they say and do. We also use current affairs stories and events (such as elections) as vehicles for discussing British Values in action. They are embedded within our subject teaching and our PSHE curriculum.
Here are some examples:
• RP, English, History Curriculum
• Sports Day
• Display
• Tutor
time
• PSHE
• Restorative Justice
• Mock elections
Democracy
• History teaches about the history of democracy in Britain but also how people have
fought to
preserve it.
• Students are given opportunities to participate in student democratic structures
such as
Student Council.
• Students contribute to the strategic direction of the school through surveys
and focus
groups.
The Rule of Law
• Students are taught the value and reasons behind laws: that they govern and
protect us,
that they come with responsibilities for us and that they involve consequences when rules are
broken.
• The
importance of rules to the safety and success our community are reinforced on a daily basis: in
tutor periods,
assemblies, lesson routines etc. We enforce rules fairly and expect students to take responsibility
for their
mistakes.
• Students are taught about specific laws e.g.: in Sex & Relationships and Drugs
Education,
in Religious Studies, in ICT or in the Technologies.
• They learn about the risks of extremism
and
radicalisation in RP and PSHE.
Individual Liberty
• Students are actively encouraged to make choices and take responsibility for
their
decisions, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment with clear boundaries.
•
Students are
given opportunities to discuss and understand their rights and personal freedoms and given advice on
how to
exercise these safely e.g.: through e-safety sessions in computing lessons, through PSHE sessions
and
assemblies.
• We provide a range of opportunities for students to develop themselves e.g.:
through trying
new activities, volunteering in school or in the wider community, participating in clubs and trips
or taking
on leadership roles in school. We are proud how many choose to spend their time constructively.
Mutual Respect
• Equality and respect for others are core to the values and ethos of St. Andrew
the
Apostle School.
• We reinforce this through our policies and how they are implemented in
classrooms and
corridors.
• We revisit key messages throughout the year through assemblies and PSHE sessions.
*From Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales 2015:
Extremism is defined as: “vocal or active
opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty
and mutual
respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of
extremism calls
for the death of members of our armed forces”.
Non-violent extremism, “can create an atmosphere
conducive
to terrorism and can popularise views which terrorists exploit.”