St Bede’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College is committed to encouraging students to respect British values. The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy:-

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· democracy

· the rule of law

· individual liberty

· mutual respect

· tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

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As a Catholic and Christian community we are proud of the education we offer our students. Through a broad and balanced curriculum, students explore the British values by way of cross curricular themes and in particular the PSHE programme. We actively challenge students, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values and seek to promote a positive approach to the areas named above.

Democracy is promoted through a Student Council, pupil voice and the election of the Senior Council based on student votes.

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Visits from authorities, such as the Police, Magistrates and Fire Services reinforce the importance of the rule of law. Individual liberty is taught through e-safety sessions delivered as part of the PHSE programme where students receive advice on how to safely exercise their rights and personal freedoms when online, whilst being made aware of their own duty of care while engaging in such activity.

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The school ethos and behaviour policy revolve around ‘respect’ as a core value, and discussions and assemblies focus on what respect means and how it is modelled. Through collective worship, liturgies are held to mark Armistice Day. Each year group has an adopted charity and local charity workers have spoken in assemblies to promote their work.

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In Key Stage 4 History, students study the Holocaust which has obvious links to morality and responsibility. Students reflect upon the reasons behind the atrocity. They consider the tensions and interactions between communist and capitalist countries during the Cold War, debating the responsibility for international affairs and tensions.

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In Key Stage 3 Science, students explore genetic variation between different races. While in Geography they look at the policy surrounding children in each family in China and discuss the morality of giving aid to poorer countries.

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In RE, students in Key Stage 4 look at faiths from around the world and explore the similarities and differences between their faith and that of our own. Students gain an appreciation of the faith differences and able to develop a mutual respect for the differences in culture.

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In PE, students are taught adherence to fair play and how this aligns itself with whole school culture, ethos and mission statements and gain an insight into what this looks like in other life experiences.

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Law in Key Stage 5, builds on the foundations built during PSHE lessons, where students review and discuss British democracy looking specifically at the British Voting system and the Legal system.

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The ‘SMARTER’ Programme offers students the opportunity to evidence how they interact with the British values and through a broad and balanced curriculum and the opportunities that lessons create, the staff and Governors of St Bede’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College believe students are able to demonstrate:

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· Their ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and respect the civil and criminal law of England.

· Their acceptance of and engagement with the 'fundamental British values', and demonstrating the skills and attitudes that allow them to participate and contribute to life in modern Britain.

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Their understanding of the range of cultures within the school “and further afield” as preparation for life in modern Britain.