British Values

At Ormiston Bushfield Academy we recognise not only the importance of supporting our students in achieving academically but also embrace our wider role in safeguarding their wellbeing and preparing them for their adult life. Part of our role in that preparation is ensuring that we promote and reinforce British values to our students. These ‘fundamental British values’ are; democracy; the rule of law; individual liberty; mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. At OBA these values are openly promoted and are embedded throughout the academy community.

The Academy takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through our whole school systems and structures such as electing and running a successful Academy Student Voice Leadership team. We also actively promote the British Values through ensuring our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values which challenge students, staff or parents’ thinking.

These values are taught explicitly as part of the curriculum through both Personal Social Health Education programme, our planned programme of tutor activities and the programme of assemblies over the year supports students developing an understanding of these.

At OBA we uphold and teach students about British Values; the examples below are an indication of some of the ways we seek to embed British values at OBA and aim to provide an insight into our approach rather than an exhaustive list.

Democracy is an important value at our academy. Students have the opportunity to have their voices heard through the student voice ‘B Hive’ and the Student Leadership Team (SLT). Following hustings in assemblies, ‘Question Time’, and meeting students during tutor time, the SLT are elected through a democratic voting process in student tutor groups. After which they go on the represent the views of their peers just as Members of Parliament represent their constituents. Democracy is also embodied in the academy through the election of our subject leaders across the Academy such as our Sports Leaders. The Student Leadership Team also play a key role in informing decision making in the academy with ‘Meet the Head’ question time where there is an opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas, they are involved in meeting stakeholders and the students form an integral part of staff recruitment. Themes of democracy; parliament and governance are also explored through assemblies and the SMSC tutor programme, they are a regular part of our students’ experiences.

The importance of laws whether those which govern the Academy, or the country are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Students are taught the values and reasons behind rules and laws; that they govern and protect us, the individual responsibilities involved and the consequences when laws are broken. Our behaviour policy is clear, understood by students consistently applied. Rewards are given to students demonstrating good attitudes, positive acts of citizenship and good behaviour. We work with our designated Safer Support Officer and there are regular visits by other community stakeholders also help reinforce the importance of abiding by rules and the law of the land.

At OBA students are actively encouraged to make independent choices knowing that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. As an Academy we educate and provide boundaries for students to make choices safety, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights, responsibilities and personal freedoms and receive advice about how to exercise these safely eg. through our teaching of e-safety issues, (embedded throughout the curriculum), a variety of assemblies and tutor time activities.

Our Academy ethos of Opportunity; Belief and Aspiration, together with our expectations of ‘Ready, Respectful and Safe’ are based around central values such as ‘respect’ and ‘responsibility’ and these values are modelled by students and staff alike. Respect for both others and ourselves are concepts which we highly value, underpinning everything we do being reiterated through our classroom and learning environments. OBA is committed to listening to our students and they are always able to voice their opinions. We foster an environment where students know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and everything, however big or small. Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum from the concept of ‘fair play’ in PE to the many examples of teamwork opportunities across the academy. Anti-bullying assemblies, PSHE lessons and our tutor programme, all reflect our commitment to mutual respect. Our student led charity fundraising develops our links with the local community whilst   supporting our teaching of mutual respect.

We endeavour to enhance students’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by providing them with opportunities to experience such diversity. We offer trips abroad throughout the academic year from which our students gain valuable experience of other cultures and languages and  welcome visiting teachers and students from other countries and faiths who share their language and culture with our students thereby enriching their experiences.  Additionally, key dates for the major world religions are celebrated through our tutor activity programme throughout the academic year. We celebrate ‘European Day of Languages’ and a student led culture week takes place annually encouraging students to celebrate their cultural heritage.  We aim provide a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures,  Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudices based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in PSHE, RE and the pastoral curriculum.

We employ teachers, teaching assistants and support staff who have English as an additional language and bring a varied cultural experience to Ormiston Bushfield Academy.