Barnwood Park School is committed to serving its community. The school recognises the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. 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.

The school 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. Barnwood Park 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
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

The school uses strategies within the curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students. The examples that follow show some of the many ways Barnwood Park seeks to embed British values.

Democracy

The principle of democracy is explored within the curriculum, particularly in PSHE. Democratic processes are used to select positions of responsibility such as that of Head Students and School Captains. The school has an effective and well-managed Student Cabinet which enables students to participate in the democratic process.

The rule of law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Barnwood Park School.

Students are taught about expectations within the classroom and this is codified through the 'Relentless Routines in the Classroom'. Barnwood Park has high expectations of pupils’ behaviour and appearance and these are reinforced through the School Rules and Uniform expectations. All teachers within the school actively uphold these and this is further reinforced through our programme of assemblies.

Individual liberty

At Barnwood Park, students are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Staff at Barnwood Park educate and provide boundaries for students to make informed choices, 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; this is a strand of much of the PSHE curriculum and is reinforced through the pastoral system and assemblies.

In order to protect the safe space for the liberty of each individual, Sir Thomas Rich’s has an Anti Bullying and Behaviour policies which are reviewed regularly and robustly enforced.

Mutual Respect

Barnwood Park is committed to creating a cohesive community where pupils feel physically and emotionally safe, where communication is open and honest.

Mutual respect is in evidence throughout the curriculum. All students are given the opportunity to express their views in lessons within the context of an environment within which these will be valued, even when there is disagreement; this is evidenced through lesson observations.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

The promotion of respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs take place in both individual Year Group, Key Stage and Whole School assemblies.

Assemblies will not only be led by the Senior Management Team and other staff but also by different religious leaders from the local community.

The Head of Key Stage 3 and Head of Year 7 organise for staff to visit all feeder schools including Islamic schools which helps build good community relationships.