British Values
The Department for Education have reinforced the need "to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs".
The Government has published departmental advice for schools on meeting the requirements to actively promote "fundamental British values".
The five British Values are:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
The school uses subject curriculums (including PSHE), deeper learning days and tutor time news discussions to teach these values. Examples for each value are listed below.
Democracy
Our students have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a student leadership team and student voice captains who meet regularly to discuss issues raised in student voice discussions. The student leadership team is able to genuinely effect change within the school. Every fortnight all pupils take part in a news discussion with their form group to debate topical events. Pupils regularly debate topics in subjects such as English and Government & Politics. All pupils participate in Slough Youth Parliament and Make your Mark in which pupils vote for their representatives, and what they should debate.
The rule of law
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police help reinforce this message. In Religious Studies pupils are taught about religious ethical principles, as well as religious law (in GCSE Religious Studies). A Level Law pupils take part in mock trials to develop their understanding of law/ethics.
Individual liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our PSHE lessons and new discussions in their tutor groups. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect
Respect is one of our core values at Baylis Court School and is modelled by pupils and staff. The school promotes respect for others and this is reiterated through our behaviour policy and classroom essentials, such as ‘meet & greet’. We actively seek pupil voice and respect the opinions and feelings of our pupils. Our pupil bullying ambassadors actively promote respect for others. Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum, for example through code of conducts in PSHE discussions or when performing to each other in subjects such as Dance and Drama.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
We place a great emphasis on promoting diversity. Assembly themes are planned to address this either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforce this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Pupils visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. As part of the GCSE Religious Studies course all pupils are taught about equality legislation and the beliefs and practices of Christian and Islamic faiths.
At Baylis Court School we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.