Rushden Academy statement on British Values
Rushden Academy is proud to serve its community. A fundamental part of this is in the promotion of British Values. We recognise the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom and understand and embrace our role in ensuring groups or individuals are treated with mutual respect.
Our academy community strives to challenge any form of discrimination or intimidation based on difference, and in ensuring individuals or groups are not open to radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
Our academy is open to all those entitled to an education under British law. We actively promote equal opportunities, and do not discriminate against any individual or group based on faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political views or financial status. The rights of every individual will be upheld in line with the Equality Act 2010.
The Government emphasised that schools are required to ensure that key 'Fundamental British Values' are taught in all UK schools, setting out its definition of British values in the ‘Prevent Strategy 2011’ as:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
These values underpin the culture and ethos of Rushden Academy and are evident through our curriculum, SMSC provision, Learning for Life Days, our wider pastoral support and provision - which includes the work of our academy based Ethos Team. Additionally, these values underpin the delivery of our assembly programme by members of the Senior Leadership Team, the appointment and work of our active Student Leadership Team and Council as well as our extra-curricular provision.
Democracy
We Value:
A chance to have a say about our school
Opportunities to participate in discussion
Each other’s point of view
We Have:
Elections for Student leadership
Student Council/ Student Forum
Student panels for staff interviews
Student feedback and student voice questionnaires
Freedom of speech and opportunities to express our views
We Learn:
Why we pay taxes and what these are used for
Current affairs and elections.
The Rule of Law
In our Learning for Life days we look at:
Knife crime
Acid attacks
Hate Crime
Prison, Me? No Way!
The law surrounding Drugs, alcohol, smoking, and sexual consent
The law and young offenders
The criminal justice system
Gangs and county lines
Managing conflict successfully
We accept the consequences of our actions
Individual Liberty
We are entitled to hold our own viewpoint without being judged.
We have the freedom to make choices, and recognise that we are accountable for all our actions.
We have access to a broad curriculum of subjects and extra-curricular opportunities
We celebrate and appreciate difference
We learn:
How to sustain a healthy lifestyle
How to plan for our futures: Careers and employability
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
We Value:
Treating others as we want to be treated
Respecting each other’s opinion
Our diverse culture of students and staff
Personal Identity, and diversity in British communities
We Learn:
How to have healthy relationships, online and offline
How to identify and prevent Radicalisation and extremism.
And Stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination in relation to disability, sexuality, race, religion and gender.
How we can respect and celebrate British Values, within the Religion and Culture of our choice.
