The government set out its definition of ‘British values’ in the ‘Prevent Strategy’ (2011), which was designed to prevent the extremism and religious radicalisation of young people.  British values are considered by the present government to be democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. The promotion of ‘British values’ is central to Catholic and Anglican education as British values have their origin in the Christian values of our nation.

"We are proud that Catholic schools promote values that are both Catholic and British, including: respect for the individual, democracy, individual liberty, respect, tolerance and inclusiveness. Our schools promote cohesion by serving more ethnically diverse and poorer communities. Catholic schools provide high standards of education which are popular with parents from all social, economic and faith backgrounds.” 

Paul Barber (Catholic Education Service 15 December 2014).

At Mount St Joseph we recognise, not only the importance of helping students to flourish academically but also spiritually, morally, socially, culturally and emotionally, so they are fully prepared for life in British society and for their role as citizens and are able to make the strongest possible contribution to the Common Good of all. We teach the importance of British Values by going much deeper into the meaning of what it means to live a good life. This is articulated through our Curriculum Policy which states the importance of, “Promoting the spiritual, moral, social & cultural, mental & physical development of pupils at the school and of society and prepares such pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.” This provides the context and meaning for understanding why British values are important. Our framework for understanding British values draws on the example of Jesus and his welcome and inclusion of all, which is developed in Catholic Social Teaching. At Mount St Joseph we provide an education, which focuses on the formation of the whole person and on our vocation and purpose in life. We are guided by our mission statement: ‘We are a community of Learners, Believers and Friends.’ Faith is our belief in a loving God who calls us to be a steward of goodness and a partner in love. This partnership in love is seen in the Christian understanding of the One God as a perfect community, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God the Holy Trinity calls us to reflect on our vocation in the world to build solidarity, act mutuality and bring cohesion in society, so we can live in harmony with each other as brothers and sisters in the family of humanity.

This belief means we place a significant emphasis on the celebration of individuality and difference within our communities and our calling to work together for the Common Good, in the service of others. Our Catholic ethos, which includes explicit reference to Christian and British values, makes a tangible difference to the way we work together and with our wider communities. Within this framework it would be impossible to overlook the government’s view of British values expressed as ‘democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.’ The examples that follow are an indication of some of the many ways we seek to embed British values at Mount St Joseph and should be seen as an indication of our approach rather than an exhaustive list.

“You have maintained a high level of pastoral care. Staff know pupils and their families very well and provide a nurturing environment for those who are vulnerable.”

Ofsted April 2018

The Rule of Law The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout every day, through assemblies as well as when dealing with behaviour. The curriculum is designed to ensure students are taught the values and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities this involves and the consequences, when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are regular parts of our learning programmes and help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty: Within Mount St Joseph students are actively encouraged to make independent choices knowing that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for students to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. We encourage students to see themselves as unique individuals able to make a unique contribution to building community. Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights, responsibilities and personal freedoms and receive advice about how to exercise these safely, for example through our exploration of E-Safety in computing (particularly the safe use of the Internet) and their tutor time activities.

“You have been successful in maintaining and improving the school’s good quality of teaching. During the inspection, teachers and teaching assistants spoke highly of the positive impact of continuing professional development on their classroom practice. Teachers new to the school have very positive role models to emulate, and senior and middle leaders support them well in meeting the school’s expectations of teaching.”

 Ofsted April 2018

Mutual Respect: Respect is one of the core Christian values of our school and is modelled by students and staff alike. The school promotes respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning environments as well as extra-curricular activities such as sport. In line with our commitment to democracy, students are always able to voice their opinions as we foster an environment where students can debate ideas and are safe to disagree with each other. We encourage students to substantiate opinions and to realise the value of co-operation and consensus as well as decision-making through voting. Our emphasis on ethics, fairness and justice means that we ask our students to ensure that they look out for those who might be marginalised and disadvantaged. Our unique approach to teaching and learning across the school (TLC’s) fosters mutual respect throughout the curriculum and our core values promotes the values both respect and responsibility. The school has taken a very strong stance on social inclusion and anti-bullying through an explicit focus on strategies to enable respect for difference through, for example, reflections on homophobia and other forms of bullying. (All cases of cyberbullying are taken seriously and investigated immediately)

“Pupils told inspectors that ‘behaviour is good’ and said, ‘The best thing about this school is the teachers'.” 

Ofsted April 2018

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs This is achieved through equipping students with the ability to develop positive values, understand their own beliefs and their place in a culturally diverse society. We give our students opportunities to experience such diversity within the school community and within the wider community. All students experience a connection with other cultures and beliefs through our RE and form time programmes, theme days and local, regional and international links. The emphasis on enterprise, working with others, and learning other languages directly contributes to the appreciation of others perspectives on life. Our Religious Education curriculum follows the teaching of the Church in providing a broad and balanced education, which includes an understanding of and respect for people of other faiths or none and other religions, cultures and lifestyles.