As a modern, multi-cultural school, we promote the British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs. This ensures young people understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain. We deliver our SMSC curriculum and discuss the importance of British values through formal subjects including the personal development curriculum, trips, assemblies, speakers/representatives who visit the school, extra-curricular activities, and special events.

Examples of the understanding and knowledge students learn include:

• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
• an understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
• an acceptance that people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
• an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination

Examples of actions we take to promote British values are:

• British Values are combined in our School behaviour CODE (students are praised for demonstrating British Values), with a clear behaviour policy and classroom behaviour CODE of 3Cs
• All subjects link, where possible, their Programme of Studies and Scheme of Works to British Values, to increase student awareness
• Include in suitable parts of the curriculum - as appropriate for the age of students - material on the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of democracy, and how democracy and the law work in Britain, in contrast to other forms of government in other countries
• Ensure all students within the school have a voice that is listened to, and demonstrate how democracy works by actively promoting democratic processes
• Use opportunities such as general or local elections to hold mock elections to promote fundamental British values and provide students with the opportunity to learn how to argue and defend points of view
• Consider the role of extra-curricular activities, including any run directly by students, in promoting fundamental British values.

SMSC and British values are further promoted through:

• a ‘whole student’ curriculum throughout every subject
• a wide variety of extra-curricular activities - Beyond the Classroom at BHS
• a wide range of trips across the UK and abroad
• services for student wellbeing, including the reflection space, a quiet, safe and welcoming space for students
• a House system, creating a rewarding family culture throughout the school
• student council and student voice - allowing students’ opinions to be heard through democracy and providing an opportunity for leadership, including Department feedback, Senior Leadership Team student voice with Years 7, 9,11 and 13, whole school student voice and Pulse check ins
• a whole school recognition system focusing on positive behaviour, inclusive to visitors to have the possibility to award recognition tokens
• external agency connections, allowing for students to experience the best of life in Boston and across the UK
• charity work across the school supporting local and international charities
• opportunities to lead within our school as members of the Student Leadership Team, School Council or Wellbeing Champions
• a wide range of assemblies, community events, external speakers, activities and workshops, designed to support and encourage students to further develop their awareness of SMSC and British Values.