British Values Statements

The DfE have reinforced 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 set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated this year. At City College these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the college, or the country, is consistently reinforced at City College. Students are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message. ‘Rules’, ‘Right are Wrong’ and ‘Laws’ are taught and embedded as part of the academy’s PSHCE scheme of work which is delivered throughout the whole academy.

At City College, students are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a college we educate and provide boundaries for students to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. Students are given the freedom to make choices, for example, whether it is through choice of challenge, or simply by choosing to participate in our numerous extracurricular clubs and opportunities.

Part of our college ethos revolves around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. The college ethos and aims promote respect for others, with a focus on supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as those of all cultural backgrounds.

City College is also a strong defender of LGBTQ+ rights, and is a safe space for our students to express themselves, with a zero-tolerance approach to homophobia and transphobia.

At City College , we actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures each half term. Religious Education lessons and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. We have a growing number of religions represent within our pupil cohort which enriches the experiences and knowledge of all students. We have strong links with local churches and continue to further develop our links with representatives of other faiths and their places of worship.

We aim to raise aspirations, expectations and achievement for all our students in a happy, caring and successful learning environment."