British Values
Promoting British Values at Kesteven and Sleaford High School
At Kesteven and Sleaford High School, we provide opportunities for students to explore their own culture and have a clear understanding and appreciation of a wide range of cultural influences that have shaped modern Britain. We encourage all students to be tolerant and respectful to those of different faiths and beliefs and life choices. This is done by providing students with an understanding of main festivals and key dates of significance to British culture. e.g. Remembrance Day, the Jubilee and major political events such as elections. It is also done by providing opportunities for diverse groups of students to meet and discuss their own particular values and beliefs via groups such as Pride Club, The Forces support group or Carers groups
We promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. We also recognise that these values are not solely exclusive to Britain and that these values have developed in Britain through a process over a substantial period of time and can only be maintained and developed by active engagement of citizens in democratic, lawful and respectful institutions and processes, of which our Secondary School is one element. We promote these values as part of our wider Kesteven & Sleaford High School - Personal Development Curriculum (kshs.uk) which is built around three key strands:
- Health & Wellbeing
- Relationships
- Living in the Wider World (including impartial CEIAG aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks).
Democracy
Students, parents and Staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard at KSHS
An obvious example of democracy in action is our main School Council, each year, the election of School Council members takes place. This reflects our British electoral system; the prospective candidates are elected by their peers; all students reflect on what personal characteristics are important for their class representatives to have. Following this, they vote and the individuals with the majority are elected. In the past, the school Council has influenced uniform changes, school dining room protocols, the development of the school site, the rewards and sanctions systems, and has given feedback to curriculum leaders on the curriculum. The committees are chaired by members of the senior student team who are themselves appointed annually in a democratic process
Other examples of how we promote the values of democracy, including ‘student voice’ are:
- Students take part in staff recruitment
- Students are asked for their views during Subject reviews and ‘Deep Dives’
- Students are surveyed about curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities
- Student voice is sought when curriculum planning decisions are made e.g. to the tutor time programme or around options time via the straw polls
Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they may be those of the school, or our country are referred to and reinforced, such as through assembly and tutor time and when reflecting on behaviour. Students are taught the value and reasons behind decisions, and the consequences if they are broken.
This is reinforced in different ways:
- The whole school behaviour policy is clearly structured and publicised and followed by all.
- Students have regular opportunities to reflect, for example, during tutor time, in assemblies and in PSHE lessons
- Assemblies and the tutor programme cover national and International events
- In EP lessons, Pupils have the opportunities to explore the rules of particular faiths
- During other subjects, students are taught to respect and appreciate different rules e.g. in sports lessons, competitions etc.
- We have links with the local PSCOs and with the local MP
- External speakers visit the school and contribute to the personal development curriculum e.g. via assemblies, PSHE days and Careers activities
Individual Liberty
Within School, Students are actively encouraged to make choices; including the right to respectfully express views and beliefs, knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment.
We promote individual Liberty through:
- Choices about learning activities and challenges
- A full range of opportunities for participation in extra-curricular clubs and activities including opportunities of freedom of speech and expression of diversity through the performing arts, writing, public speaking, artistic endeavours and debates
- Opportunities to reflect in PSHE lessons, tutor time, assembly, drop-down days, careers events as well as in a whole range of lessons
- Empowering students to make safe and healthy choices through the personal development curriculum
- Vision statement and values for our school communicate and share our vision.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart of what we believe and one of our Trust core values. Students learn that their actions and words have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community should treat each other with respect.
We promote this through our personal development curriculum which includes:
- Assemblies on core themes such as respect, patience, tolerance, understanding etc.
- PSHE and Tutor time sessions planned and mapped as part of our wider personal development curriculum
- Anti-bullying policies, learning and sanctions
- EP curriculum along with other subjects input which is mapped in their schemes of learning
- Positive relationships are encouraged and modelled by staff and senior students
- Buddy System, Well Being Ambassadors, Form Prefects, Student Councillors, Sports Leaders, Student Librarians, the Sixth Form Subject Prefect System and the House System provide opportunities for students to care for others
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
KSHS has a less diverse community compared to many other schools and for this reason, we ensure that we share and promote opportunities to understand the wider world and its diversity through:
- In EP, PSHE and other subjects lessons, pupils have the opportunity to develop their awareness and appreciation for other cultures
- The weekly Quiz in tutor time ensures students have developed awareness of current affairs
- Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within their class
- Educational visits which are age appropriate are planned and mapped to give students opportunities to see more and more of the world as they get older
As well as promoting British Values, we actively challenge any students, staff, or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values including ‘extremist views'.