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Curricular Delivery of British Values
Democracy
At Bingley Grammar School, democracy is taught within the Humanities subjects, for example within History in Year 8 students are asked the question…’How equal is British Society?’ Then going onto explore how civil rights have developed in the UK. Also Elizabethan England (1568–1603) is explored and this provides a historical point of comparison by looking at a centralised, non-democratic monarchical system, exploring how governance functioned before modern parliamentary democracy.
In PSHCE students learn about the British electoral system and the idea of representation. Our commitment to democracy is put into active practice through global campaigning, such as our participation in the Send My Friend to School initiative. Through this campaign, our students collaborate to advocate for the right to education worldwide, learning how to use democratic channels to raise awareness, engage with political leaders, and influence positive international change. In History, students learn how Britain remained a democracy after the First World War whilst many countries in Europe became dictatorships, contrasting the nature of life under the two systems. Moreover, in many lessons students are encouraged to voice their opinion and to defend it in debate, as well as voting on the quality of student presentations.
The Rule of Law
The rule of law is taught in many subjects. For example, the importance of rules and laws is taught within our PSHCE lessons. Students learn about laws in a variety of contexts, including in ICT where they learn about laws relating to the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act. In P.E., students learn about the laws and rules of various sports and are given the responsibility of enforcing them when they officiate games.
Individual Liberty
Individual liberty and what it means is a value covered in PSHCE, where students learn about liberty in the context of studying human rights. We also explore the complex nature of conflict and human rights through our critical work with Solutions Not Sides. This programme empowers our students to explore critical thinking, handle sensitive global topics maturely, and understand the importance of conflict resolution, empathy, and peaceful coexistence. In History, students learn about those fighting for the liberty of people subject to discrimination and oppression.
Mutual Respect
Throughout the curriculum, the importance of mutual respect is emphasised, directly mirroring our school value of respect. In Religious Education, students are encouraged to respect the views of those from particular faith backgrounds and those from none. In P.E., a focus on the “evaluating and improving” strand means that students are encouraged to appreciate each other’s efforts and skills.
Tolerance of Those of Different Beliefs and Faiths
Tolerance of those of different beliefs and faiths is beautifully showcased in our school calendar. A prime example of this is our annual Culture Day, a student-led celebration where we actively embrace, share, and honour the rich diversity of cultures represented within our school community. This vibrant day brings our students together to share clothing, traditions, and food, fostering an atmosphere of pride and unity.
Tolerance is also embedded across subject areas; for example, in Hospitality lessons students learn about different cultures through studying themes such as cooking different foods, whilst MFL students learn about different Francophone and Hispanic countries in lessons and extra-curricular trips run by the department. This directly prepares our students to navigate, appreciate, and contribute positively to the wider multicultural landscape of Bingley, Keighley, and the broader Bradford district.
SMSC and Wider Personal Development
These values are further embraced throughout the school curriculum in its focus on SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Development).
In addition to the curriculum, there are many other opportunities and activities which students participate in that underpin the promotion of British values and foster collaboration among our youth. Student Voice activities give students a definitive role in contributing to the life of the school as a learning community, perfectly synthesised by our student-led assembly program. There are many leadership opportunities, such as our Peer Leaders and Sports Leaders in P.E.
The school runs a Duke of Edinburgh award programme, giving students the opportunity to develop their own individual skills and talents while demonstrating commitment through the community service element. Through many sporting activities and clubs, such as those in Drama and Music, students have the opportunity to learn and reflect British values. School teams cannot win matches and trophies without understanding and following the rules, and without the players respecting each other’s skills and collaborating effectively. School productions cannot succeed without performers trusting, supporting, and collaborating with one another.
No school ever stands still, and Bingley Grammar School is no exception. By embedding Respect, Commitment, and Collaboration into our daily practice and anchoring them within our proactive Form Time curriculum, we continue to strive to ensure that our children and young people from Bingley, Keighley and Bradford leave with the strongest foundation of values upon which to build a successful life and make a positive contribution to society.
