British Values

British Values & Diversity Letter

British values form poster

British values Staff Training

Democracy  

•  Pupils are involved in democratic processes e.g. voting for councillors and mock elections such as the Year 9 voting campaign.  
• We mirror real life democracy by holding referendums, such as our mock general election (2024) and mock local elections (2026) 
• We have an RS cohort who take part in the debate competition 
• The School Councils allow all pupils to take part in the democratic process, with all items being debated by SLT. 
•  GCSE Citizenship follows a module on democracy, studying Parliament, the separation of powers, voting, campaigning and devolution. We have visits from the local MP for Dudley North and local councillors from the Dudley borough  
• The whole school has voted for Youth Parliament representatives previously.  

History look at the election processes in the UK, Germany and America. Additionally there is a focus in Year 9 when studying the cold War on Capitalism vs Communism.  

Science hold debates on issues such as stem cell research and genetic technologies 

The Rule of Law 

• Our school has links with outside agencies including our local School Police Liaison Officer who work with students through assemblies and other events.  
• We have a clearly structured Behaviour Policy which everyone understands and follows.  
• All students are aware of the legal system within the United Kingdom and how this is implemented within society through PSHE sessions.

GCSE Citizenship includes a module on the law and includes visits from the Police, a visit to the Crown Court and a trip to Shrewsbury Prison. ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ educates students on the different types of law and courts, reasons for punishments and the effectiveness of punishments available in the UK.  

Drama study Crime & Punishment in Year 9 

English study Crime and Punishment in Year 8. Pupils engage in discussion regarding the ethics of certain laws.  

Computing study – Computer Misuse Act, Data Protection (GDPR), Copyright designs and patents act. 

PE look at rules of games and the consequences of not following them 

Science discuss issues on the law relating to drugs and sexual reproduction  

History look at the impact of British colonisation on native cultures. For example, introducing British sports in Ireland and teaching rules on fair play, tolerance and following rules. Comparing this to the impact this has on Irish culture and native sports eg) Gaelic Football. 

GCSE History Year 10 – Study Crime, Punishment and Law Enforcement from 1250-Present Day. Analysing comparisons between time periods and what causes change to occur.  

Year 7 Geography study ‘Smooth Criminal’ looking at what crime is and how space can impact crimes 

BTEC Health & Social Care study rules around personal and physical health as well as discrimination laws within the workplace, society and within the health care systems.  

Individual Liberty 

• Students have key roles and responsibilities in school such as Executive Leadership Team,  Anti- Bullying Ambassadors, School Council reps, PLC helpers, Peer mentors, Effort and attendance mentors and Sports Leaders.  
• Within school students are actively encouraged to make choices knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.  
• As a school, we celebrate our heritage through the ‘Where in the World Map?’, Black History Month and our Diversity in Dormston programme. We are now accredited with the ‘Stonewall’ mark for our work in LGBTQ+ rights.  
• As a school we educate young people providing boundaries so that students can make choices safely.  
• Students are given the freedom to express their creativity through the Arts.  
• Through our extra-curricular activities and opportunities, students are given the freedom to make choices.  
• We ensure that everyone feels safe by promoting anti- bullying campaigns and focus on areas such as LGBT issues and racism.
• We hold events such as ‘Culture Day’ to ensure that all members of society feel welcomed by our pupils.  

GCSE Citizenship contains a module called ‘Active Citizenship’, where students investigate a topic of their choosing and actively campaign to make a change. We study campaigns such as Marcus Rashford and Free School Meals, fathers 4 Justice and the Gay Marriage campaign.  

English – pupils study The Bone Sparrow in Year 7 looking at the issue of refugees in detention camps. The concept of freedom is explored and debated.  

Mutual Respect and Tolerance  

• Our Citizenship and PSHE curriculum embodies values of mutual respect and resilience by promoting British Values.  
• Our Humanities curriculum area actively promote attitudes of respect, tolerance, equality and fairness.  
• Our R.E. curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on different of faiths, religions and cultures.  
• Our curriculum recognises and celebrates the similarities and differences of those in other countries and cultures. GCSE Citizenship follows a module on ‘Life in Modern Britain’ which studies multiculturalism and society, identity, communities, global citizenship, equality, international organisations and the refugee crisis. 
• We teach key celebrations such as Easter, Diwali and Chinese New Year through form notices, Black History Month celebrations and consideration for absences due to religious festivals. 
• We take racism very seriously. Any racist action results in sanctions and bespoke workshops to counter the issue. Our ‘Diversity in Dormston’ programme allows students, parents, carers and staff to study multiculturalism, to complete tasks on these matters and to educate us all on how to work together for the best of our students.  
• Staff have received training on multiculturalism and diversity and our new policies mean that all events are picked up- indirect as well as direct, so that all are educated about the importance of mutual tolerance.   

Year 7 Drama focuses on Friendships and looks at issues with respect 

Maths celebrate the role models of Alan Turing, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. They also look at immigration figures.  

Music studies African drumming, Bhangra, Calypso, Greek, Palestinian, Israeli, Brazilian Samba and Indian Classical music. We also have a scheme on the Blues which looks at slavery. Displays in both rooms have black and female composers.  

History looks at the Holocaust, Stephen Lawrence etc. 

Art study artists from different backgrounds and cultures 

English study The Bone Sparrow in Year 7 which deals with a protagonist who is Rohingya Muslim.  Issues of racism, genocide, ethnic cleansing and perceptions and treatment of refugees is covered.  In Year 8 pupils study Salt to the Sea which deals with the experiences of refugees in World War II fleeing the Soviet advance in East Prussia.  

English provide a thorough reading list and have a display of books from authors from different cultures 

Stereotypes discussed and challenged in the ‘Is Africa Poor’ unit for Year 8 Geography. Being careful of the ‘single story view’.  

MFL look at breaking down stereotypes and the importance of being a global citizen. With the new GCSE spec, there is a sub-unit in My Personal World where students learn about festivals/celebrations in the French/German speaking countries and also learn the vocab for equality, identity, disability etc. In the photocard tasks, we and the exam board routinely use same-sex couples, different types of families, people with wheelchairs and other disabilities as the norm. 

Science have displays of key people from other cultures 

History has a unit studying the impact of Post War Britain. Focusing on key societal groups: Homosexuality, Racism and the lives of Gyspsy’s. How have their lives changed under a new labour government?