British Values
Epping St John’s School is committed to serving its community. The school recognises the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. We also understand the vital role we have in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
Epping St. John’s 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 is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its 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
- Acceptance of those with different faiths and beliefs
The school uses strategies within the National Curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students. The examples that follow show some of the many ways Epping St John’s School seeks to embed British values.
Democracy
We have our own Student Leadership Team consisting of elected reps. Students are taught in a variety of ways including Form time, assemblies and in subject specific content about the importance of democracy.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout all aspects of school life. Students and parents are taught the value and reasons behind our rules, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. We use our Behaviour and Rewards Policy to echo the Rule of Law in society and its importance to protect and support us.
Individual Liberty
Students are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We educate and provide boundaries for students to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our PSHE lessons, form time activities and opportunities for debates and discussions in class. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our ‘Be Courageous’ extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
We place great emphasis on promoting diversity with the student and staff body. Our RE, assemblies and Form time teaching reinforce this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes. We expect all members of our school to show tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
Radicalisation and Extremism
The school believes and actively supports the view that all students should be protected from radicalisation and extremism. Our approach to this is in line with the Government’s PREVENT Strategy (stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism).
Radicalisation is the process by which people come to support terrorism and extremism, and in some cases, participate in terrorist groups. Extremism is the vocal or active opposition to the fundamental British values in the bullet points above.
Our total commitment to safeguarding student welfare means that we are vigilant to monitoring vulnerability to radicalisation including:
- Family tensions
- Sense of isolation
- Migration
- Distance from cultural heritage
- Experience of racism or discrimination
- Feeling of failure
Any concerns must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Officer, Sarah Montgomery or Alison Hummerstone who will make a referral using the “Safeguard” referral form.