“Active engagement in our local and wider community helps pupils to grow into responsible citizens.”
St Richard Reynolds Catholic College 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 every child within the College are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
St Richard Reynolds Catholic College follows equal opportunities guidance, set out in the Equality Act 2010 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. St Richard Reynolds Catholic College is committed to preparing students for their adult life beyond our College and that they are actively engaging with, and promoting, British values.
The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools. The government set out the five British Values as:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
How do we specifically promote ‘British Values’ at our school?
St Richard Reynolds Catholic aims to ensure all students are loved, listened to, challenged and inspired, and as such, we seek to promote ‘British Values’ in our policies and practice. Our activities, and the way we manage learning and behaviour, clearly reflect ‘British Values’.
We promote these values in the following ways – click on the British Value to find out more
Students grow in knowledge and understanding of democracy by
- Provide students with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services by discussing these whenever appropriate in curriculum work.
- Teach students how they can influence decision making through the democratic process e.g. in our College Parliament work and College-wide elections and referendum.
- Encourage students to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school e.g. in our College Parliament, pupil contribution in annual review process/Education Health Care Plan process and trips such as to the House of Lords and Commons
- Include in the curriculum information on the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain e.g. when considering periods of history when democracy was not as fully developed as it is now.
- Hold debating sessions so students can discuss and debate important topics, such as the voting age and taxation.
- Students are actively encouraged to express their views e.g. through a variety of lessons and topics, and are provided opportunities to present work and opinions.
- Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged e.g. through our interactions with students and the school’s behaviour system, in assemblies and class PSHCE work.
Students grow in knowledge and understanding of The Rule of Law by
- Learning about and following the College Code of Conduct
- Learning about aspects of the law and how it applies to young people in PSHCE
- Encouragement to reflect on their moral choices and to takes responsibility for the consequences
- Learning about the need for rules in RE lessons
- Visits from magistrates in Year 10
- Ensure students’ buy-in to the College. Students recognise the importance of working together to ensure every member of our community is loved, listened to, challenged and inspired.
- Help students to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.
- Include visits from the police e.g. involvement with the Community Police Officers in assembly and aspects of the curriculum.
Students grow in knowledge and understanding of Individual Liberty by
- Reflecting on their own experiences of freedom and learning about God’s gift of free will in RE lessons
- Pupils are encouraged to be independent learners who make choices about how they learn
- Students are given opportunities to make choices which affect their lives
- Support students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence e.g. through all areas of teaching and learning in school encouraging them to become good and valued citizens.
- Encourage students to take responsibility for their behaviours, as well as knowing their rights.
- Challenge stereotypes e.g. through PSHCE curriculum and assemblies.
- Implement a strong anti-bullying culture, as promoted in our policies for Anti-bullying, Anti-discrimination and Behaviour.
- Demonstrate that everyone has rights; this includes the right to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to ideas or activities e.g. students choose whether or not to access after school activities, students are encouraged, but not forced, to participate in acts of worship.
- Students are provided with work experience in Years 10 and 12. Students are encouraged to seek out their own work placements.
- Students in Year 10 and 12 are encouraged to apply for the positions of prefects and college leaders.
- Students can stand for election to the College Parliament and are democratically elected.
- Support others by participating in a wide variety of charitable fund raising events such as Salvation Army Winter Appeal, Aid to the Church in Need and our Lenten Appeal.
Students grow in knowledge and understanding of mutual respect by
- Engaging in a variety of charity work
- Basing all actions on an ethic of love of self and neighbour
- Emphasising in RE and PSCHE lessons that every person is unique and “created in the image of God”
- Learning about issues such as sexism, racism and homophobia in RE and PSHE
- Studying music and texts from a variety of cultures
- Having a strong anti-bullying ethos
- Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour e.g. an anti-discrimination culture has been developed in consultation with students and parents. Identification of discrimination and promotion of equal opportunities regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender.
- Discuss differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as Looked After Children e.g. through our SMSC/PSHCE and broader curriculum work and through visitors sharing their experiences.
Students grow in knowledge and understanding of Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs by
- Studying different religions in RE including Sikhism, Judaism and Islam and respective visits and discussions had before, at and after visiting a local Church, Synagogue and Mosque
- Studying moral issues from a range of different perspectives, including non-religious views, in RE
- Learning about Jesus’s example of respect for those of other faiths eg Good Samaritan
- Visits to places of worship and importance to other religions
The College seeks to collaborate with all schools in the borough and to form productive partnerships with local businesses, religious groups, clubs and charities.