Promotion of British values

At The Oswaldtwistle School we recognise not only the importance of allowing students to flourish academically but we also embrace our wider role in preparing them for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum. Part of our role in that preparation is ensuring that we promote and reinforce British values to our students.

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and considered them to be Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs. At The Oswaldtwistle School these values are reinforced in a pervasive manner and permeate the school community.

As a Pupil Referral Unit, we actively promote values, virtues and ethics that shape our pupils’ character and moral perspective.  We believe through the teaching of our school curriculum, we promote tolerance, acceptance, peace, being non-judgemental, humility, justice, the dignity of each human being, forgiveness, generosity, fairness, discipline and hope.

The examples that follow are an indication of some of the many ways we seek to embed British values at The Oswaldtwistle School and should be seen as an indication of our approach rather than an exhaustive list.

 

Democracy

At The Oswaldtwistle School the principle of democracy is consistently reinforced, with the democratic process being employed for important decisions within the school community, for instance, elections being held for our School Council. Students are equally involved in the interviewing process when new appointments are made in school. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through pupil questionnaires.  Additionally, pupils play a massive role in supporting charities, not only choosing the activities that they do to raise money, but also making decisions regarding where the money that has been raised goes.  The principle of democracy is explored in Curriculum For Life, Humanities, tutor time, Drop Down Days, trips 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 throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. All students study Curriculum For Life as part of our Universal Curriculum offer. 

Our school rules are deeply embedded in our work every day. As a school, we discuss and display our school norms which are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every pupil is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.  Our pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Details about school rewards and sanctions are explained in our Behaviour Policy.

 

Individual Liberty 

Within The Oswaldtwistle School, students are actively encouraged to make independent choices knowing that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for students to make choices safety, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education.  Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights, responsibilities and personal freedoms and receive advice about how to exercise these safely, for example through our exploration of E-Safety, CFL lessons and their tutor time activities.

 

Mutual Respect

Respect is at the core of our school ethos and is modelled by students and staff alike. The school promotes respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning environments. In line with our commitment to democracy students at The Oswaldtwistle School are always able to voice their opinions and we foster an environment where students are safe to disagree with each other. Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum from the concept of ‘fair play’ in PE to the thread of the Code of Conduct that runs through all lessons. Mutual respect is at the heart of our values.  Students learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others.  All members of school, whether staff or students, should be treated respectfully.

The core value of respect at The Oswaldtwistle School underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom.

Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

This is achieved through equipping students with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity within the school community.  Additionally, students are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school. Our Humanities and Curriculum For Life lessons provide a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures, as well as trips to local places of worship.

E Safety is also enhanced in this area as pupils are taught to respect others with different faiths and beliefs online too.  Regular E-Safety messages are shared with pupils and parents and the wider community on a termly basis through our website and social media