The Independent Grammar School: Durham

PROMOTING BRITISH VALUES

The Independent Grammar School: Durham is committed to serving the community in which it finds itself and of which it is proud to be a part. We recognise the rich, multi-cultural, multi-faith and constantly changing nature of life in modern Britain. Whilst we are proud of our broad, inclusive and informal Christian ethos, we greatly value those of other faith backgrounds and will be delighted to welcome as many as possible into our school community. We deplore any kind of prejudice, discrimination or inequality in the treatment of others, believing that all deserve dignity and respect. We know how vital our role as a school is in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them. We therefore follow equal opportunities guidance which helps to ensure that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. The Independent Grammar School: Durham is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and to ensuring that we promote and reinforce British values to all our students.

The Government emphasises the requirement that key British Values are taught in all UK schools. The definition of British values is set out 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

These values are consistent with, and indeed spring from, traditional Christianity and are therefore reflected in our school’s values – Courage, Respect, Excellence, Achievement, Transparency and Enjoyment.  We will strive to be a school in which British Values are lived out and whose pupils can discuss and articulate them with clarity and sensitivity. We will use strategies within the National Curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students.

Assemblies are a key part of every school day at The Independent Grammar School: Durham and an important forum for educating children in British Values. All assembly programmes will be clearly colour-coded so that British Values themes are brought out in as many topics as possible.

Every child will have a weekly lesson in which British Values are thoroughly discussed and taught and the attitudes and responses of pupils to these lessons, and their impact on behaviour and attitude, will be regularly monitored by the Executive Principal, Head of School and the School Board.

All staff and Directors will complete appropriate PREVENT training, so that they are constantly alert to the dangers of extremist behaviour. Students will be actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within school and will be encouraged to understand how vital it is to be tolerant of others’ views.

We are committed to a values-driven education for all our children and to ensuring that our students eventually leave IGS: Durham with the strongest foundation of values upon which to build a successful life and with which to make a strong, sustained contribution to 21st century Britain.