British Values

Promoting British Values Statement

Derby Moor is a community school within the Spencer Academy Trust and we are committed to serving our community. We recognise that our community is multi-cultural, multi-faith and an ever-changing part of the United Kingdom. We understand the vital role we play in ensuring that groups and individuals within the school are not subject to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly or illegally, influence them. 

We accept admissions from all those entitled to an education under British law, including students of all faiths or none. We follow a rigorous diversity and equality scheme, which seeks to eradicate discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, disability, political or financial status, or similar. We aim to serve all of our community. 

We are dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formally examined curriculum by ensuring that we promote and reinforce Fundamental British Values to all our students. 

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key British Values are taught in all schools. 

The five key Fundamental British Values are: 

• Democracy 
• The Rule of Law 
• Individual Liberty 
• Mutual Respect 
• Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs 

 

We use strategies within our curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students. The examples that follow show some of the many ways we seek to embed FBV. 

  

Democracy 

• Democracy is embedded in the school. Students are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. This is reflected in our whole school value of “community” which states that “all members of the school community feel valued and are kept safe.” 
• Students also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our Student Council and student voice opportunities. Each year students from Derby Moor represent young people at the monthly Voices in Action forum organised by Derby City Council. An invitation to apply for this role is offered to all students through the Tutor Program. 
•  Discussion of democracy at a National Level is embedded throughout our PSHE and Citizenship provision. The importance of listening to, and valuing, the opinions of others is also threaded throughout our assembly programme. 
• Youth Parliament elections take place annually for Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor to represent Derby. We use this as an opportunity through the Tutor Programme to raise awareness of Democracy, Representation and Electoral Procedures. As a school we are proud to encourage candidates to put themselves forward, then facilitate selection,  organise hustings, play recordings of shortlisted candidates’ speeches and enable every student to vote during the allotted election period, with individually produced ballot papers and a sealed ballot box from the City Council to provide a genuine experience of how elections work. We have been proud to have students from our school elected by young people throughout the city to represent Derby. 
• The Student Voice team are able to meet with key members of staff and governors, as required to discuss what they do. 

• Parental Voice – parents/carers have the opportunity to share their opinions through questionnaires at all our parent evenings. We regularly seek feedback from parents through the increasingly popular Principal’s Coffee mornings as well as the regular Parent Forum.  We now have a Parent Teacher Association to foster deeper involvement with the school’s processes. 
• We carry out regular student surveys, including questions about Equal Opportunites and bullying. 
• Immediate follow-up of issues raised by pupils and parents regarding bullying etc., resulting in very high parental satisfaction levels on Parent and Student Questionnaires. 

 

The Rule of Law 

• The importance of laws, whether they are those which govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced within our school. 
• Students are taught the rules and expectations of the school which are highlighted by school behaviour expectations and the school behaviour policy. Students are taught the value and the reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Prevent Awareness reinforce this message. 
• In Personal Development and RS and History lessons, students gain an understanding of various aspects of UK law and contrasting legal systems, historically and internationally, as well as being mindful of the effects of prejudice, discrimination and persecution. 
• On Drop Down Days expert facilitators provide workshops on issues such as Gun and Knife Crime, FGM, Drugs, County Lines, Sexual Exploitation, Pornography, Abusive Relationships, Youth Offending and Prisons. 
• Details about school rewards and sanctions, choice and consequences are detailed in our Behaviour policy (see policy section of website) and our consequence system is displayed prominently around school. 
• This is also reflected in our value of “high expectations”. We are committed to ensuring that all students understand the rationale behind the community we are seeking to create together through the embedding of our shared values. 

  

Individual Liberty 

• Students are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment (as per our value of community). All our staff provide boundaries for students to make informed decisions 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, for example through e-safety and tutor time activities in Life Skills in KS3&4 and SMCSC in KS5. This is also reflected in our PSHE and Citizenship curriculum. 
• Derby Moor Spencer Academy has a robust, anti-bullying culture and has in place a comprehensive Behaviour Policy. 
• Derby Moor Spencer Academy is committed to safeguarding, and promoting the welfare of all of our students. We recognise that in an ever changing and fast-moving world it is essential that we promote students’ well-being, confidence and resilience, and that we provide our students with up-to-date information and signpost them to places where they can find support, where necessary.  
• Through Life Skills, PSHCE and Drop Down Day workshops, we help students to recognise signs of unhealthy relationships, inappropriate social media interaction, grooming and domestic violence. 
• We see protecting our students from the risk of radicalisation as part of our wider safeguarding duties, and that it is similar in nature to protecting students from other harms (e.g. drugs, FGM, neglect, and sexual exploitation), whether these come from within their family or are the product of outside influences. We acknowledge the Prevent duty and we have due regard to the need to prevent young people from being drawn into terrorism. Facilitators present Drop Down Day workshops on the dangers of Radicalisation from extremist groups of all kinds and where to find support. 

  

Mutual Respect 

• Respect is a strong part of our school and is part of our school ethos. Students learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of our school community are expected to treat each other with respect so they feel valued and are kept safe and this is reiterated through both our teaching and our learning environments. 
• Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum by providing the opportunity for students to express their views in a safe environment. 
• Students are encouraged to discuss and debate issues openly and be respectful of students of different religions, sexualities, genders and ethnicities who have different beliefs and views. 

  

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs 

• Tolerance for all is achieved through equipping our students with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving opportunities to experience such diversity within our school community. Students benefit from a number of international visitors, visitors from other continents and cultures. Additionally, students are given opportunities to share their faith and beliefs and we celebrate festivities throughout the calendar year. The PSHE curriculum and Tutor Programme, which is compulsory for all students, provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. 

  

We promote British values in several ways including, but not limited to: 

• Strong whole school ethos underpinned by the school motto of “Together We Succeed” and our values: Aspiration, Achievement, High Expectations and Community. These are displayed prominently throughout the school.  Students and staff alike are able to explain and understand what these values mean. 
• We hold regular assemblies reinforcing our ethos and key messages 
• An annual act of remembrance on November 11th. 
• Ethos reinforced via inclusive practices, in particular the Behaviour Policy, and through the introduction of the “Moor Draw” and “Attitude to Learning” systems for rewards. The Derby Moor Award enables students of all abilities to demonstrate their employability skills through a choice of practical and cultural assignments which can be completed at home or in the community, as well as in school, leading to the award of Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. These are open to all students and ensure that all are treated equitably and fairly in relation to behaviour management, rewards and sanctions. 
• Many opportunities for students to serve as mentors – either peer mentors, or transition mentors, supporting students in their transition into secondary school. 
• All school policies & practices reviewed by governors for compliance with equal opportunities 
• Successful integration of students from many different countries into the Derby Moor ethos resulting in a cohesive ‘family’ environment. 
• Strong pastoral (house) structure with tutor groups led by an individual tutor and with oversight from a House Manager and Assistant Vice Principal. 
• The introduction of a charity week led by the student voice team. 
• Structured tutor time every morning, including discussions of topical issues 
• The Human Development Curriculum teaches students to critically evaluate world and British historical events, ideas and political ideals and to understand and respect a range of religious and non-religious viewpoints and faiths. This also includes strong Personal, Social, Health & Citizenship Education (PSHCE) programme in all year groups, either through lessons or Life Skills and Drop-Down Days. 
• Extensive enrichment programmes including visits in Britain and abroad; work with external businesses and partners and higher education establishments; extensive use of our alumni to mentor students and support a wide range of interventions to promote and develop Employability Skills of all students, through Faculty led challenges and bespoke innovation days.  
• We aim to be an inclusive school. We believe that the best interests of all our students can be served by our own provision.  Therefore, we have taken proactive steps to ensure that all students, including vulnerable students, can be educated and supported on site.  Our “Thrive”, Nurture and Innovation provisions are central to the success of this.