The Dept for Education introduced a statutory duty for schools to promote British Values more actively from September 2014, and to ensure they are taught in schools.

Carlton le Willows Academy is committed to serving its community and British Values lie at the heart of this process. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom and our local area. It also understands the vital role it has 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.

It follows equal opportunities guidance which aims to challenge discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. Carlton le Willows Academy 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 set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. The five key British Values are:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Carlton le Willows Academy uses strategies within the formal curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students. We have highlighted below some of the ways that we seek to instil British Values.

At Carlton le Willows Academy, the principle of democracy is consistently reinforced, with the democratic process being employed for important decisions within the Academy. All interviews include a student panel and a student led tour and the students involved then feed back to the selection panel prior to appointment, For our School Parliament students have to nominate themselves and then produce a manifesto for other students to view and then vote for their representative, akin to the British electoral system. The School Parliament feeds back directly to the Headteacher and Senior Leadership team, which in turn supports the process of co-production. The Sixth Form Council also has an important role in creating a democratic student voice where representatives are elected by their peers. The principles of democracy are further explored in subjects such as Citizenship, History and Religious Studies as well as in tutor time and assemblies. In Citizenship lessons specifically, students are taught about the different forms of government and how they exercise democracy: Local Government, Regional Assemblies, National Government, the European Union and the United Nations.

The importance of laws, whether those that govern the class, the school, or the country are consistently reinforced through the action of our school, The school’s Discipline with Dignity system provides a clear framework for a harmonious school community., The laws of the land, particularly the school’s ‘Fair Rules’, to deal with attendance, punctuality and behaviour are promoted through tutor time, school assemblies, houses and lessons. Students are taught the values and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Students are taught about the British legal system (Crime and Consequences), which covers a broad range of topics regarding crime, justice and reformation.

At Carlton le Willows, our 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 safely, 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, tutor time activities and the school’s work towards achieving the E-Qualities Award.

The relationship between staff and students is a key driver in all we do at Carlton le Willows. The school promotes respect for others and this is reiterated throughout our school environment. In line with our Character Counts initiative, students are always able to voice their options and we foster an environment where students are safe to disagree with each othe., Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum from the concept of ‘fair play’ in PE to the school’s work towards the E-Qualities Award which promotes mutual respect and support between students from different backgrounds and year groups within the school. Restorative practice plays a significant role in resolving conflict and supporting the development of our young people.

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. Typically, our school assemblies focus on beliefs and interests of staff, external agencies and students themselves.

Within the curriculum, we run a number of trips abroad throughout the academic year from which our students gain valuable experience of other cultures and languages. Additionally, students are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school. The school’s Religious Studies curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. The school has developed links with St Francis Xavier School in Goa, India, which has provided students and staff with a valuable cultural experience and more recently, created a sporting link with a university in China.

As part of the curriculum, students at Carlton le Willows are taught about the influence of radicalisation in relation to the Government’s counter terrorism strategy. The Prevent Team also work with staff and students to reduce the risk of vulnerable individuals being drawn into extremism or terrorism.