At Hoe Valley School, we all believe everyone should be tolerant and respectful of one another which is reinforced by our CIRCLE values. The DfE have clearly stated the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British Values of Democracy, The Rule of Law, Individual Liberty and Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs.” The Government sets out its definition of British Values in the Prevent Strategy which all of our staff are trained in.
At Hoe Valley School these values are reinforced regularly in the following ways:
Democracy
- All students participate in annual student elections which include hustings in assembly and then a visit to the ballot box
- The elected student council meet regularly and represent the interests of their tutor groups
- Different governing systems are explored in curriculum areas such as History, English and PSHE
The Rule of Law
- Students contribute to the whole school behaviour policy and understand the rationale behind the rules and expectations of HVS
- Assemblies and PSHE lessons link behaviour in school to legal boundaries, for example when discussing banned items or physical contact
- Rewards and celebrations are embedded throughout school life
Individual Liberty
- Students study individuals who have fought for individual liberty and chose to name their houses after some of these people
- Students study human rights, the role of the UN and how rights between children and adults are different in PSHE
- In tutor time, PSHE and assemblies we discuss different choices, the need for healthy debates and different opinions and people’s right to choose
- The pastoral system, culture and ethos of the school allow children to make choices and take risks in a safe and supportive environment
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
- Our Religious Education curriculum explores and celebrates different faiths and beliefs via lessons and through drop down days such as ‘inter-faith’ day where students rotate around workshops delivered by different faith representatives
- Themed days and weeks celebrate and share the different languages and faiths within our school
- Visits from charities such as Encompass explore issues such as ‘the journey of an asylum seeker’