British Values

All schools have a duty to ‘actively promote’ the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and at Edgar Wood the development of students’ values runs throughout our curriculum, whilst also being monitored as part of our Personal Development. When planning their curriculum, our Heads of Department consider where British Values can be considered within lessons, in order to ensure that our students appreciate the relevance of these values across the curriculum.

Having a clear sense of their own values will allow our students to actively and positively participate in society, by being able to evaluate the choices available to them, and making decisions in line with their own values.

Detailed below is more information on how each value is embedded at Edgar Wood. For more information, please refer to our Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Education Policy (SMSC Policy).

Democracy is promoted at EWA in the following ways: 

  • Students spend a half term considering the concept of democracy in PSHE in year 7 .
  • Election of student leadership roles and regular student voice sessions.
  • Informal voting on issues within form times and lessons. 
  • The principles of democracy are explored in the whole curriculum e.g. turn taking, sharing and collaboration, as well as during assemblies and special projects.
  • Achievements are celebrated both in lessons and in our celebration assemblies and rewards are embedded into our Academy culture and ethos. 
  • We promote a school environment where questions are valued and encouraged. 

The rule of law is promoted at EWA in the following ways: 

  • The Academy has a high regard for the laws that govern and protect the Academy, the responsibilities that this involves, and the consequences when laws are broken.  
  • The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the Academy, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the Academy day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through  assemblies.  
  • The Academy's ethos promotes and encourages respect and helps students to distinguish right from wrong. 

Individual liberty is promoted at EWA in the following ways: 

  • A safe and supportive environment is fostered throughout the Academy, where students are actively encouraged to make choices. Whether it is choosing a challenging task or an extra-curricular club, students have the freedom to base their choices on their interests.
  • Students are taught about their rights and personal freedoms and are encouraged and advised on how to exercise these safely, for instance through teaching on e-safety in PSHE lessons.
  • Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and are supported to learn to make safe choices that enable them to grow as individuals and reach their own potential in all aspects of their learning. 
  • As students move up through the Academy, they are supported to understand their rights and personal freedoms and are given appropriate advice to enable them to make independent decisions. 

Mutual respect is promoted at EWA in the following ways: 

  • Respect forms a core pillar of the Academy’s ethos. Students are treated with respect and learn to treat each other and all members of staff with respect. Our students know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone: adults and children
  • Students consider the role of respect within friendships and communities in PSHE in year 7.
  • Throughout the year, assemblies are held focusing on bullying, with reference to prejudice-based bullying, and discussion is encouraged. 

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs is promoted at EWA in the following ways: 

  • Through the PSHE and RE curriculums students are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations. 
  • Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school e.g. a discussion of fasting during Ramadan. 
  • Discussions about prejudices and prejudice-based bullying in form time. 
  • Links and visits are promoted with local faith communities and places of worship.