Promoting Fundamental 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.

At St. John's we  promote British Values in the following ways:

Democracy

• Having a school council
• Highlighting the development of democratic ideas in history lessons
• Allowing pupils to vote 
• Ensuring all pupils are listened to by adults
• Inviting MPs and other speakers to the school
• Visiting parliaments, assemblies and local councils
• Holding mock elections

The Rule of Law

• Classes creating “class rules”
• Having a clear behaviour policy that is explained to all
• Organising visits from the police service to reinforce the message of right and wrong
• Highlighting the rules of the Church and God in the RE curriculum, for example the 10 commandments and the Precepts of the Church
• Teaching about the development of the Rule of Law in English Law, a legal system created uniquely in a Catholic England, inspired by Christian values and becoming a major influence across the world

Individual Liberty

• Encourage students to be independent in their learning
• Provide students with opportunities for reflection as they take responsibility to discerning their vocation

Mutual respect

• Having a mission statement that is inclusive
• Constantly promoting respect for others as good manners
• Reinforcing the value of everyone’s opinions in class debates

• Having an effective anti-bullying policy
• Emphasising in RE and PSHE lessons that every person is unique and “created in the image of God”
• Having active educational links with other schools
• Supporting charitable works

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

• Highlight how Religious Education provides pupils with a deep understanding of their own faith as well as awareness of the faith and traditions of other religious communities as a basis for understanding and respecting them
• Show how Jesus encouraged tolerance in stories such as The Good Samaritan and The Women at the Well