British Values
At Stephenson Academy, we actively promote the British Values of Democracy, Mutual Respect, Rule of Law, Tolerance and Individual Liberty and Responsibility.
We ensure that British Values are promoted in many ways throughout the daily life of our school. In addition to classroom activities, each week our assemblies focuses on a key British Value, reflecting events happening in the wider world and giving children the opportunity to discuss these matters.
Democracy
- We ensure that pupils are given a ‘voice’ to communicate. This ‘voice’ could be using words, objects, photographs, pictures, symbols, signing, eye pointing or body language.
- We empower our children by giving them opportunities to make choices about the things that they believe to be important.
- We have an active school council which promotes the democratic process where children vote for their class representatives.
Mutual Respect
- Children are involved in the development of the class behaviour contract.
- Children are encouraged to turn-take, share, negotiate and collaborate.
- Children show respect for the opinions of peers during class discussions and assemblies.
Rule of Law
- We have clear rules and expectations of behaviour. We have a system of rewards and consequences which all children understand.
- Visits from the schools police liaison officer reinforce the rule of law and the consequences when laws are broken.
Tolerance
- All children and staff are respected equally.
- Children are taught to challenge gender, race and cultural discrimination.
- Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.
Individual Liberty and Responsibility
- Children are provided with boundaries which encourage them to make choices safely.
- Children develop a sense of responsibility by undertaking leadership roles around the school such as peer mentors and becoming members of the student parliament.
- Children are encouraged to know certain rights through the promotion of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).