British Values Statement College
Promoting British values
Expanse Learning College is committed to all stakeholders and their local communities.
We strive to recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. We also understand our role in ensuring that groups or individuals within the college are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
We follow Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance alongside other equal opportunities legislation to support our staff teams in ensuring there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar.
The College is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond college and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its students.
The Government emphasises that colleges are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all education establishments. 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
Through the delivery of our curriculum, we strive to ensure our students develop an understanding of what it means to be British and the ways in which they can uphold British Values.
Democracy
The principle of democracy is consistently reinforced within the college, with democratic processes used to support some decisions within the college. We hold regular college forums and work with peers, Natspec, and the Youth Parliament.
We develop students’ understanding of why it is important to vote and the value of having a vote as a British citizen. The principle of democracy is embedded within the curriculum and specific college events.
The rule of law
Students are encouraged to recognise the importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the college, or the country. Student cohorts develop their own class values and contribute to the wider college values.
Students develop understanding of the purpose and application of laws which govern and protect us, including their responsibilities, accountability, and potential consequences when laws are broken.
Individual liberty
Students are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure, and supportive environment. Staff educate and provide boundaries enabling students to make informed choices.
Students are encouraged to know, understand, and exercise their rights and personal freedoms appropriately and safely, for example through on-line safety.
The relationships dimension of our personal social development curriculum develops students’ understanding and capacity to recognise the difference between making good and bad choices when interacting with friends, family, and others and how to respect others’ beliefs.
Mutual Respect
Students develop an understanding that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. We strive to ensure that all members of the college community treat each other with respect, and this is embedded throughout all college activities.
The college has an anti-bullying culture with robust systems for dealing with any instances of prejudiced behaviour, negative stereotyping and racist incidents, including the use of ‘on the spot challenges’ with students displaying such views.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
We develop students’ understanding of our culturally diverse society and give them opportunities to experience diversity. Students benefit from external visitors and visits to promote understanding of different faiths and cultures. They are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the college and celebrate festivities throughout the calendar year as part of the curriculum.
As a college we strive to ensure that our students leave with an informed values set, upon which to build a successful life and make a sustainable contribution within their local community and society. We recognise that all staff from teachers through to administrators have a role to play in the education of our students. We place great importance on the training and development of our staff in relation to teaching the importance of British Values.
Thank you for reading this section of our website, we have placed below a link that takes you to the national government guidance on promoting British Values. If you have any comments about our college related to this or any other topic then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
