At Meopham School we recognise the importance of preparing our students for their adult lives beyond the formal examined curriculum.

An important aspect of preparation for adulthood is ensuring that we promote and reinforce British Values to our students.

The examples below should be seen as an indication of our approach rather than an exhaustive list:

Democracy

We believe it is crucial that our school models the principles and practice of democracy. Students have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Leadership Team, frequent student voice, and student surveys. The democratic process is employed for important decisions within the school community so that students can experience and understand how this process works. The principles of democracy are explored in a number of curriculum subjects, including History, Philosophy and Personal Development as well as through Ethics drop-down days.

The Rule of Law

The importance of codes of conduct and behaviour are consistently reinforced throughout the school day, and through school assemblies. Our staff are positive role models for our students.  Through our delivery of Citizenship students are taught about why laws are important in a democratic society, and about the laws that govern and protect the citizens of the UK. They learn about the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. 

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make positive choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for students to make choices safely. Students are encouraged to know and understand how to exercise their rights and personal freedoms.  We advise them how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety and Personal Development lessons. Students have the right to choose from a wide range of enrichment activities based on their interests. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and The Human Rights Act are taught through the History and Personal Development curriculum.

Mutual Respect

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has evolved around our core values and Character curriculum.   All the adults in our school community model the importance of mutual respect. We have a zero tolerance approach to all forms of bullying. Students take part in discussions and assemblies about what mutual respect means and how it is evident in social interaction. Students learn how their behaviours can affect themselves and others. Posters around the school promote respect for others, and this is also emphasised through our behaviour policy. Our RSE curriculum teaches students how to behave responsibly towards themselves and others in preparation for adulthood. Our taught curriculum is underpinned by values of mutual respect across all subjects. 

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

We approach this by developing students' understanding of their place in a richly diverse society.  We give them opportunities to experience such diversity through visitors to the school, visits to places of worship and symbolic significance, and through our wider enrichment programme which encourages them to be outward-looking and curious about the wider world. We welcome students from all faiths and cultures to learn at our school. Learning about different faiths and beliefs in Philosophy and Personal Development is supported by other areas of the curriculum, such as English, Geography, Art, Music, History, and Ethics days. It is also a strong feature of assemblies.  

Daily acts of collective worship/assemblies

Our assemblies uphold traditional values of empathy, respect, and tolerance. Assemblies respond to current issues that are of interest to, or affect, our school community. We welcome outside speakers from a range of diverse backgrounds to speak at assemblies.