British Values Statement for Aston Academy

Our Commitment to British Values

At Aston Academy, we are committed to actively promoting the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values form part of our responsibility to provide opportunities for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of our students.

Our Approach

We take a holistic approach to British values, recognising that many of these values cannot be taught in isolation – they derive from the culture of our school and need to be lived through our ethos and values. British values flow through every aspect of school life at Aston Academy, from our curriculum to our daily interactions, assemblies, and wider school community.

How We Promote British Values

Democracy

We actively promote democratic principles by:

Operating an effective student voice and school leadership system where students can influence decisions

Teaching students about different models of democracy through our citizenship curriculum

Encouraging students to participate in votes and questionnaires

Ensuring students understand how their voice matters in our school community

The Rule of Law

We help students understand the importance of laws and rules by:

Maintaining clear, fair, and consistently applied behaviour policies

Teaching students about the UK legal system and how laws protect us

Exploring historical and contemporary examples where the rule of law has been tested

Helping students understand the difference between right and wrong and the consequences of their actions

Individual Liberty

We support students to develop their individual liberty by:

Encouraging students to make safe, informed choices

Promoting online safety and teaching students how to exercise their rights and freedoms safely, particularly online

Providing a curriculum that allows students to explore their interests and talents

Creating an environment where students feel safe to express their views and beliefs

Mutual Respect and Tolerance

We foster mutual respect and tolerance by:

Celebrating diversity within our school community and beyond

Teaching about different faiths, cultures, and beliefs through Religious Education and across the curriculum

Challenging discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping in all its forms

Promoting understanding of protected characteristics and equality

Creating a culture where all members of our community feel valued and respected

We embed British values throughout our curriculum, with clear links to subjects including English, history, geography, languages, religious education, citizenship, Personal Development and PSHE education.

We use assemblies to educate and inform students how British values are relevant to all students. Our school policies, including our behaviour policy, safeguarding policy, and equalities policy, all reflect our commitment to British values.

Preparing for Life in Modern Britain

We prepare students for life in modern Britain by creating a culture of zero tolerance for sexism, misogyny, homophobia, racism and all forms of discrimination. We keep our students safe through our comprehensive RSHE programme and wider curriculum, we ensure pupils develop the knowledge, skills, and character they need to thrive as responsible citizens.