British Values
What Do British Values Mean?
All schools are legally required to promote fundamental British values. According to the Department for Education (DfE), these values include:
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Democracy
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The rule of law
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Individual liberty
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Mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs
The DfE has issued guidance to help schools integrate these values into their teaching, aiming to prepare young people for life in modern Britain (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/guidance-on-promoting-british-values-in-schools-published)
The Purpose Of Promoting British Values
The aim of delivering British values in education is to equip students with the understanding and appreciation of key principles that support a cohesive and inclusive society. These values, which include democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs, are critical for fostering responsible citizenship. By embedding British values, schools strive to:
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Develop students' self-knowledge, self-esteem, and self-confidence.
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Enable students to distinguish right from wrong and respect the civil and criminal law of Britain.
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Encourage students to take responsibility for their actions, show initiative, and contribute positively to both their local community and wider society.
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Provide students with a broad understanding and respect for public institutions and services in Britain.
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Promote tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions, encouraging respect for both their own and others' cultures.
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Instill respect for others, particularly regarding the protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010.
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Foster respect for democracy and support for participation in democratic processes, including respect for the legal frameworks within which society operates.
Through this approach, schools prepare students to be respectful, engaged, and informed members of society, promoting diversity, equality, and social harmony.
How Hilbre High School Promotes British Values
At Hilbre High School, we take our responsibility to promote British values seriously. We actively integrate the principles of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance throughout our curriculum. These values are not merely topics of study but are woven into every subject area, with special emphasis in Citizenship, PSHE, Religious Education, and during our form time assemblies. We also highlight these values through key events such as ‘School Diversity Week’, which further deepens students' understanding.
Our Hilbre Pledges—Honour, Initiative, Leadership, Boldness, Resilience, and Endeavour—play a crucial role in supporting the delivery of these British Values:
Honour: This pledge underpins our commitment to mutual respect and tolerance. By fostering an environment where students uphold high standards of integrity and respect, we ensure that every individual is valued and treated with dignity.
Initiative: Encouraging students to take initiative aligns with promoting individual liberty. It empowers students to make choices and take responsibility for their actions, thus reinforcing their understanding of personal freedoms and responsibilities.
Leadership: Our focus on leadership supports democratic principles by providing students with opportunities to lead and influence decisions within the school. This engagement in leadership roles helps them experience democracy in action and appreciate the importance of fair and just decision-making processes.
Boldness: Emphasizing boldness encourages students to challenge themselves and engage with new ideas, which is essential for personal growth and resilience. This quality also supports our focus on individual liberty by enabling students to confidently express their opinions and stand up for their beliefs.
Resilience: The pledge of resilience is integral to understanding and upholding the rule of law. By learning to overcome challenges and persist through difficulties, students gain a deeper appreciation of accountability and justice in their personal and academic lives.
Endeavour: This pledge reflects our commitment to ensuring that all students have access to opportunities and strive to achieve their best. It aligns with promoting equality and creating an inclusive environment where every student can thrive.
Our school policies further underpin these British Values. For instance, our Behaviour and Discipline Policy reinforces the rule of law by clearly outlining expectations and consequences, teaching students about accountability and justice. The Prevention of Bullying Policy and Equality and Diversity Policy ensure mutual respect and tolerance are promoted, creating a safe and inclusive environment for all. The Accessibility Plan and Special Educational Needs (SEN) Policy support individual liberty by ensuring that all students, regardless of their needs or abilities, have access to the full curriculum and opportunities to thrive.
Through our PSHE Policy and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy, students develop an understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens, while the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy underscores the importance of protecting individual freedoms within a safe and secure environment. The Transgender Policy further promotes equality by respecting and supporting gender diversity in the school community.
Additionally, our Student Voice and Leadership programs offer students the chance to experience democracy in action by participating in decision-making processes, and our Admissions Policy and Careers Programme ensure that all students, regardless of background, have fair access to educational and career opportunities, fostering social mobility and a sense of responsibility.
We also make a conscious effort to broaden our students' horizons beyond their immediate community. Through a range of school trips and visits, we provide opportunities for students to appreciate diversity and celebrate the commonalities that unite us, while fostering a sense of pride in British values and a deeper sense of belonging to our nation.
For more information, please visit our School Policies section to explore these and other key policies in detail: Hilbre School Policies.
Below are specific examples showcasing how we embed British values within our school.
At Hilbre High School, we take our responsibility to promote British values seriously. We actively integrate the principles of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance throughout our curriculum. These values are not merely topics of study but are woven into every subject area, with special emphasis in Citizenship, PSHE, Religious Education, and during our form time assemblies. We also highlight these values through key events such as ‘School Diversity Week’, which further deepens students' understanding.
Our Hilbre Pledges—Honour, Initiative, Leadership, Boldness, Resilience, and Endeavour—play a crucial role in supporting the delivery of these British Values:
Honour: This pledge underpins our commitment to mutual respect and tolerance. By fostering an environment where students uphold high standards of integrity and respect, we ensure that every individual is valued and treated with dignity.
Initiative: Encouraging students to take initiative aligns with promoting individual liberty. It empowers students to make choices and take responsibility for their actions, thus reinforcing their understanding of personal freedoms and responsibilities.
Leadership: Our focus on leadership supports democratic principles by providing students with opportunities to lead and influence decisions within the school. This engagement in leadership roles helps them experience democracy in action and appreciate the importance of fair and just decision-making processes.
Boldness: Emphasizing boldness encourages students to challenge themselves and engage with new ideas, which is essential for personal growth and resilience. This quality also supports our focus on individual liberty by enabling students to confidently express their opinions and stand up for their beliefs.
Resilience: The pledge of resilience is integral to understanding and upholding the rule of law. By learning to overcome challenges and persist through difficulties, students gain a deeper appreciation of accountability and justice in their personal and academic lives.
Endeavour: This pledge reflects our commitment to ensuring that all students have access to opportunities and strive to achieve their best. It aligns with promoting equality and creating an inclusive environment where every student can thrive.
Our school policies further underpin these British Values. For instance, our Behaviour and Discipline Policy reinforces the rule of law by clearly outlining expectations and consequences, teaching students about accountability and justice. The Prevention of Bullying Policy and Equality and Diversity Policy ensure mutual respect and tolerance are promoted, creating a safe and inclusive environment for all. The Accessibility Plan and Special Educational Needs (SEN) Policy support individual liberty by ensuring that all students, regardless of their needs or abilities, have access to the full curriculum and opportunities to thrive.
Through our PSHE Policy and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy, students develop an understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens, while the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy underscores the importance of protecting individual freedoms within a safe and secure environment. The Transgender Policy further promotes equality by respecting and supporting gender diversity in the school community.
Additionally, our Student Voice and Leadership programs offer students the chance to experience democracy in action by participating in decision-making processes, and our Admissions Policy and Careers Programme ensure that all students, regardless of background, have fair access to educational and career opportunities, fostering social mobility and a sense of responsibility.
We also make a conscious effort to broaden our students' horizons beyond their immediate community. Through a range of school trips and visits, we provide opportunities for students to appreciate diversity and celebrate the commonalities that unite us, while fostering a sense of pride in British values and a deeper sense of belonging to our nation.
For more information about our curriculum, please visit https://www.hilbre.wirral.sch.uk/page/?title=Curriculum&pid=24.
You can also access key documents related to our approach:
***Active Form Time Delivery***
***British Values Across the Curriculum (2024-2025)***
For further details on our policies, please visit our School Policies section: https://www.hilbre.wirral.sch.uk/page/?title=Policies%2C+Documents%2C+Procedures&pid=36
Below are specific examples showcasing how we embed British values within our school.
Democracy
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The Rule Of Law
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Individual Liberty
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Mutual Respect And Tolerance For Those With Different Faiths And Beliefs
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