British Values
At Greys Education Centre we value the diversity and backgrounds of all pupils, families and the wider school community.
We promote and embed our own Values and UNICEF Rights Respecting charters to reinforce British Values.
The Department for Education states that there is a need:
“To create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to 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.”
The Department for Education defines British Values as follows:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Our school reflects British Values in all that we do. These statements are clearly visible in the school and drive how we interact, our policy, practice and the standards we expect of each other.
We encourage our pupils to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world.
At Greys Education Centre we actively promote British Values in the following ways:
Democracy
- Our School Development Plan includes a Pupil Voice Areas aimed at decisions being informed by pupil discussion and suggestions.
- Pupil Voice is addressed through Pupil Parliament, questionnaires and through our Right Respecting charters.
- Informal voting on issues within form times and lessons.
- We hold democratic pupil parliament elections and voting.
- Pupils contribute to their TAF, Transition or any SEND meetings so their opinions are shared in the most appropriate and meaningful way.
- There is explicit consideration of democracy within PSE and RSE lessons. Curriculum areas lend themselves to thoughtful discussion.
- A few examples: many of our pupils have personalised timetables developed alongside pupils and significant adults: pupils, staff and other agencies have an opportunity, through questionnaires, to comment on many aspects of the school including standard of work, progress and individual well-being. These inform future policy and practice. Year 11 attend team building exercises that strengthen resilience and communication skills.
Our School Parliament is established and has an annual budget to spend on school improvement priorities.
Our class representatives have been instrumental in the following:
- Naming our classes after “children who have changed the world”
- Improving outdoor play and sports facilities for break and lunchtimes.
- Organising fundraising opportunities (Comic Relief, Support for Ukriane)
- Promoting a school environment where questions are valued and encouraged – ‘You say, We did.’
Rule of Law
- Our community could not function without a clear understanding of the rules and regulations that provide a framework for our provision.
- Our pupils are constantly made aware of their responsibilities towards each other and the wider community.
- We also work hard to build relationships with our community policing team.
- School rewards and sanctions are clearly expressed and shared – the emphasis here is upon the rewards associated with appropriate behaviour.
- The school’s ethos promotes and encourages respect and helps pupils to distinguish right from wrong.
- Our Behaviour and Anti-Bullying policies set out a zero tolerance baseline for any form of aggression, abuse or violence, which extends to pupils, staff, parents and carers.
- We raise awareness of bullying by being part of the National Anti-Bullying Week and Internet Safety Day.
- The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.
Through lessons and visits/visitors, pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.
Individual Liberty
Our school environment is one that promotes independence and individual communication. Our aim is to work towards pupils having full independence.
- The curriculum places a great deal of emphasis on individual responsibility and appropriate choice – pupils are encouraged to discuss their choices appropriately and within a supportive framework. The school reminds pupils that individual liberty and freedom also brings individual responsibility.
- We pride ourselves on a school culture and ethos that builds respect, tolerance and resilience.
- Both in and out of lessons pupils are actively encouraged to make the right choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
- Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our Online Safety and RHSE lessons. We have a robust anti-bullying culture.
- The Duke of Edinburgh Award in the secondary unit promotes team work, and has a clear emphasis on individual choice and endeavour. Students have the opportunity to take part in the DoE expedition every year.
- Staff work to promote pupils’ self-esteem and a positive sense of self throughout the school day and in the wider community, using bespoke targets informed by THRIVE or BATS.
- Vulnerable pupils are supported to make appropriate decisions and staff ensure that adults supporting them are doing so with the pupils’ best interests.
- We conduct regular pupil and parent surveys and use the results to inform the coming year’s school development plan.
Mutual Respect
- Respect is one of the core values of our school; it is usually the key to trusting relationships which mean pupils are successful with us an in their next placement.
- Staff and pupils know there is zero tolerance of any form of racism/discrimination – intended or not – and the school community acts swiftly to challenge this. All such incidents are recorded and dealt with accordingly.
- Difference and diversity is welcomed at Greys and this is made clear in our Ethos and Culture statements as well as through curriculum exploration and discussion of different cultures, faiths and beliefs. Students take part in events to raise money for charities i.e. Children in Need and Red Nose Day by baking and selling cakes.
- Our pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone. School assemblies address what respect means and how it is shown.
- Displays around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, newsletters, as well as our Behaviour Policy.
Tolerance of Faiths/Beliefs
Discussions about prejudices and prejudice-based bullying in lessons, PSE, RSE and other curriculum areas are embedded throughout the school.
We also:
- Recognise and discuss religious celebrations in lessons, form times and assemblies.
- Promote an understanding of a variety of cultures and faiths through bespoke timetabled days, such as Diwali, Ramadan, Chinese New Year, Hannukah and Christmas.
- 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.
- Through the PSE and RE curriculums pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences in family situations.
- Links and visits are promoted with local faith communities and places of worship e.g. in RE pupils visit the Gurdawara, Mosques and local churches.
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are:
Jo Tift (Deputy Head)
Natalie Toner (Hospital Education)
Greys Education Centre is a Unicef Silver Rights Respecting School. Ofsted rated ‘Good’ (February 2024).
Telephone: 01234 408477 – Office Email: greys@biltt.org
Greys Education Centre is part of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
Company Number: 08156641