British Values

In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.

Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

What are British values?

According to Ofsted, British values are:

• Democracy;
• The Rule of Law;
• Individual Liberty;
• Mutual Respect for and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith.

What must be taught?

• 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 for 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.         

St Mary's Aims & Objectives

At St Mary’s we understand that the society we live in is diverse and through our curriculum, teaching and learning and extra-curricular activities we ensure that British Values are promoted

Our aim:

We will endeavour to ensure that all learners understand the values that have traditionally underpinned British society so that they are ‘Learning Today for the World of Tomorrow’. To this end, our intention is for British Values to be interwoven in the heart of the school and explicit links made through the cross curricular learning, Assemblies, Circle Time and PSHE.

Our objectives are:

• To ensure that all pupils develop an understanding of the values which underpin life in modern day Britain.

• To teach all pupils to have mutual respect and tolerance for and an understanding of, the various faiths and beliefs represented in Britain today.

• To ensure that all pupils learn to uphold the rule of the law and support justice and equality.

• To help all pupils understand and value the rich diversity that other citizens from different cultures, religions and backgrounds bring to our national society.

• To value people’s differences and respect them.

• To develop pupils’ awareness and tolerance of communities different to their own.

• To value democracy and to stand up for right against wrong.