Promoting British Values and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development

British Values

The idea of looking after our Community and serving those within it will be at the core of everything we do, as well as demonstrating the values of  Endeavour, Kindness, Ambition, and Integrity through our daily actions and communications each and every day.

The school knows it has a vital role in ensuring that groups or individuals are safe, open-minded and understand their personal rights and their responsibilities towards others.  

The school follows equal opportunities guidance, which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar.

The school upholds and models positive behaviours, language and actions throughout the day, every day.  We promote and reinforce British Values to all our students.

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools.  The Government set out its definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.

The five British Values are:

• Democracy
• The Rule of Law
• Individual Liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

The academy uses strategies within the National curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students.   The examples that follow show some of the many ways The Beacon School seeks to embed British values.

Democracy

The principle of democracy is probably most visible in our School Council, whose members are elected to represent the wider student body. It meets regularly, discussing education and the school priorities, often suggesting workable solutions and changing our approaches.

We also have a Head Students team with prefects and other school officials.  These important roles are contested through hustings and student votes.

The principle of democracy is also explored in the History and Religious Studies curriculum as well as in form time and assemblies.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at The Beacon School.  Students are taught the rules and expectations of the school which are highlighted by the student code of conduct and student expectations.  Students are taught the value and the reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.  

We have clear behaviour and reward policies that guide our staff and students in how to be fair, just and open with expectations in and around the school.  We seek to be a Beacon Community – to inspire us all, to respect others in their successes and to have Integrity in all we do.

Individual Liberty

At The Beacon School, students are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Staff at The Beacon School educate and provide boundaries for students to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. 

Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised on how to exercise these safely, for example through e-safety and Form Time work.

Every individual is encouraged to make the most of every opportunity to develop and thrive.  We run enrichment clubs after school, the Duke of Edinburgh, national and international trips (China, the USA – and a 'Camps International' trip to Tanzania).

The Beacon School has a robust anti-bullying culture and has in place a comprehensive Behaviour for Learning Policy.

Mutual Respect

Kindness is one of our values.  All members of the school community are expected to treat each other well, using the correct language and manners at all times.  We are a school that challenges lack of respect and poor behaviour; as a community, we all need to learn, teach and work as happily and successfully as possible.

Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum by providing the opportunity for students to express their views in a safe environment.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

We celebrate differences at The Beacon School.  We learn about other faiths and beliefs through the curriculum, recognise Black History Month, invite speakers for LGBT issues, and work with local organisations and charities. We have PSHCE days that look at some of the key rights and wrongs in social, legal and political issues.  Everyone and every group is represented as far as we can.  We want our young people to go into the world with an open mind, a listening ear and a positive approach.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) Development 

SMSC is a dimension of the whole school experience which makes the curriculum relevant, stimulating, creative and fun. It enriches each subject, embodies the ethos of The Beacon School and is essential to the success of our school.

At The Beacon School we recognise that the personal development of pupils, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally (SMSC) plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve. SMSC is essential for children and young people’s individual development, as well as the development of society as a whole.

Ofsted highlights the importance of SMSC as central to the development and growth of pupils as people and at the heart of what teachers would say education is all about. SMSC has been part of education since the 1944 education act and was around in earlier forms before that. It can sum up what a good school is all about – preparing children and young people to live full active lives as part of their community and into adulthood.

Through our PDC(Personal Developement Curriculum) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) lessons we help students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence; distinguish right from wrong and to respect English law; encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and contribute positively to society; enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of, and respect for, English public institutions and services and to appreciate and respect their own and other cultures.

The Beacon School strives endlessly to ensure that its students leave with the strongest foundation of values upon which to build a successful life and a successful contribution to our Society.