British Values

Promoting British Values

The Duston School is a community school and we are committed to serving our community. We recognise that our community is multi-cultural, multi-faith and an ever changing part of the United Kingdom. We understand the vital role we play in ensuring that groups and individuals within the school are not subject to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly or illegally, influence them.

We believe in equal opportunities which guarantee that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status or similar. We are dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formally examined curriculum by ensuring that we promote and reinforce Fundamental British Values to all our students.

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key British Values are taught in all schools.

The five key Fundamental British Values are:

Democracy
The Rule of Law
Individual Liberty
Mutual Respect
Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

We will use strategies within our curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students. The examples that follow show some of the many ways we seek to embed FBV.

Democracy

The principle of democracy is always reinforced at The Duston School, with democratic processes being used for important decisions across the school community, for example, elections are held for Head Boy and Girl and Prefects. The principle of democracy is also explored in the History and Global Education curricula as well as in tutor time and assemblies.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they are those which govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced within our school.

Students are taught the rules and expectations of the school which are highlighted by school behaviour expectations and the school behaviour policy. 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Prevent Awareness reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

Students are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. All our staff provide boundaries for students to make informed decisions 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 tutor time activities.

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

Mutual Respect

Respect is a strong part of our school and is part of our Mission Statement and Values. Students learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of our school community are expected to treat each other with respect and this is reiterated through both our teaching and our learning environments.

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

Tolerance of those with different Faiths & Beliefs

Tolerance for all is achieved through equipping our students with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving opportunities to experience such diversity within our school community. Students benefit from a number of international visitors, visitors from other continents and cultures. Additionally, students are given opportunities to share their faith and beliefs and we celebrate festivities through the calendar year. The Global Education curriculum, which is compulsory for all students up until the end of KS4, provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures.