Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) Development & Embedding British Values

Batchwood School promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Actively promoting these values means challenging opinions or behaviours at Batchwood School that are contrary to fundamental British values.

The Teachers’ Standards expect teachers to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school. This includes not undermining fundamental British values.

Through the provision of SMSC development at Batchwood Schools we:

• 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;
• promote 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; and
• 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.
• The list below describes the understanding and knowledge expected of pupils as a result of Batchwood School promoting fundamental British values.
• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
• an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety;
• an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence;
• an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
• an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour; and
• an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.

How will we achieve this?

Democracy:

Democracy is richly embedded within the school. Students  have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Student Council, student  questionnaires, meeting with the Headteacher and through being a Head Boy, or Peer Mentor. Our school behaviour and values policies involve rewards and sanctions; this is shared through all aspects of school life and also shared with parents, carers and students.

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 and OAA activities. Students 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 and Fire Service are welcomed to help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty:

Within school, students 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 all students to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and an empowering approach through the education. Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our Forest School lessons. Students are further empowered through being part of the Student Council and being able to take part in student forums which link directly to the senior leadership team or governors. Students are given the freedom to make a wide range of choices from attending extra-curricular clubs to supporting fund raising events.

Mutual Respect:

As a school which holds values at the core of its ethos, our school values and behaviour policies have evolved around core values such as ‘respect’. Every student has the right to ‘Make Every day Count’, and students have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Respect is one of our values taught explicitly within lessons, assemblies and the school council. It is shared with home through newsletters and website information. Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

At Batchwood School we are a culturally rich and diverse school where students have unique opportunities to learn from each other by sharing and celebrating their different faiths and cultures. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed up and supported by learning in across the school. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.