British Values

Introduction

Belper School and Sixth Form Centre is proud of its strong ethos and its commitment to its values of respect, inclusivity and responsibility.  By ensuring that our students leave the school as independent and responsible young adults we seek to support and fulfil the school’s duty to promote British Values, as defined by the DFE document ‘Promoting fundamental British values through SMSC in schools’.

The document can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-fundamental-british-values-through-smsc The Department for Education defines British Values as:

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

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education

Through our provision of spiritual, moral, social and cultural education (SMSC) Belper School and Sixth Form Centre aims to:

• enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
• enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
• encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, 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; enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
• further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
• encourage respect for other people;
• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England

These aims dovetail with the Equalities Act of 2010 and the Prevent Strategy and are reinforced by the Teachers’ Standards.

Curriculum Coverage

Our commitment to promoting fundamental British Values underpins the way we function as a school: in our systems and structures, in our daily interactions and in the ways in which we communicate both with one another and with people beyond our community.  Whilst PSE, Tutor Time and assemblies are key vehicles for exploring and promoting these values, the wider curriculum and extra-curricular activities also support our work in this important area. A range of subjects directly teaches aspects of the values agenda, whilst whole school activities, such as School Council meetings, contribute to students’ understanding of democracy and respect for other peoples’ opinions.

Students are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance. Visitors to Belper School and Sixth Form Centre often note the peaceful and collaborative atmosphere, and the good relationships between students and staff, which reflect our commitment to promoting British Values.

If you would like to find out more, please read our curriculum statement under the Curriculum & Prospectus link.