British Values

Within our school, British Values pervade much of what we do on a daily basis, largely through what could be deemed the ‘hidden curriculum’. This is where the school’s ethos influences more abstract areas of personal development such as forming and maintain relationships, self-esteem and patterns of behaviour – all of which are considered crucial to prepare our children for life in modern Britain.

At West Vale Academy, we recognise the importance of teaching our pupils mutual respect for those of different or of no faith, and the shared values of Christianity and other major world faiths.

Our Religious Education programme includes the Calderdale/Kirklees agreed syllabus and focuses on the three faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

At West Vale democracy is taken very seriously. Children are actively encouraged to have a voice and share their views and opinions regularly. Our active school council is one such example. Each year we have an election week when the candidates pitch their election manifesto to the rest of their class. A secret ballot ensues and the results are announced in a special assembly. The children love this process and have great respect for the outcomes.

Our pupil council and Senior Leadership Team meet regularly to discuss issues raised in class and on the playground that they take back to their classes. Also at the start of the year, children from Year 6 stand for election by their peers to become Head Boy and Head Girl and House Captains. They must prepare a speech to state their case as to why they would be suitable to lead their house. We currently have a Head Boy and Head girl and four House Captains. Their responsibility is to organise competitions and reinforce our high expectations of behaviour, standards of work and social interaction around school.

Members of our Governing Body are elected following these same democratic principles.

Regular surveys of parents and carers, pupils and staff inform the School’s Self-Evaluation and priorities for development each year.

The importance of laws whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country are consistently reinforced throughout the school day, when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Each class is involved in developing their own set of ‘rules’ thus enabling pupils to engage in how decisions and laws come about under a democratic system.

Pupils are taught the value and reason behind the laws that govern and protect us, the responsibility that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safety, through of provision of a safe environment and empowering education.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through e-safety learning, PSHE and assemblies. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual respect is at the heart of all our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own right and the rights of others.

All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect. Staff are expected to be good role models at all times. Respect regularly features as one of our focus in assemblies and reflection.

Mutual respect is at the heart of all our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own right and the rights of others.

All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect. Staff are expected to be good role models at all times. Respect regularly features as one of our focus in assemblies and reflection.

West Vale Academy's Values 

At West Vale Academy, we also have our own values. These were decided with our children, staff, families and Governors. Our values underpin our curriculum and are seen and ‘felt’ in all we do.

Protected Characteristics 

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain is protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics:

  1. Age
  2. Disability
  3. Gender reassignment
  4. Race
  5. Religion or belief
  6. Marriage or civil partnership
  7. Sex
  8. Sexual orientation
  9. Pregnancy and maternity

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:

  • Our school vision and West Vale's Values
  • Our Positive Behaviour Policy
  • Conscious role-modelling by all adults in the school community
  • Active engagement and communication with parents and carers
  • Assemblies
  • British Values themes, focuses and books
  • Discussion within curriculum subjects
  • Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary
  • PSHE lessons
  • RE lessons
  • Sporting, Art and Cultural Events
  • Pupil Voice
  • Educational visits
  • Real-life learning outside the classroom
  • Visitors to school
  • Developing links with local, national and international communities
  • Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community.

Embedding Protected Characteristics at West Vale Academy promotes:

  • Self-esteem, self-knowledge and self-confidence
  • Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process
  • Acceptance of responsibility for their own behaviour
  • Respect for their own and other cultures

Understanding of how children can contribute positively to school and home life and to the lives of those living and working in the locality and further afield

  • An understanding of equality, human rights and Protected Characteristics
  • An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
  • An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety
  • An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
  • An acceptance that other 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 combating discrimination.