British Values
The five key fundamental British Values are embedded across the LIFE curriculum and woven into our core Cheam values as well. We actively celebrate and promote fundamental British Values across the school and they align closely with our Cheam High values.
In LIFE, students spend the first half-term studying and developing their understanding of our core values of Respect and Responsibility, Aspiration and Determination, Curiosity and Character. They spend a lesson dissecting the meaning behind each of these values and what it means to them both personally and through being part of the Cheam High community.
In Year 10 LIFE, the scheme of work for the first half of the Autumn Term focuses on citizenship and a single lesson each week is dedicated to each British Value. At the end of the half-term, students then write their own manifesto which must include and make reference to each British Value.
Please see below for more details on where each of the fundamental British Values are incorporated in our work across the school.
Democracy
All students participated in a Mock Election in July 2024 and the benefits and key elements of a democracy were presented to them in an assembly and studied in LIFE lessons, as well as at tutor time. Hustings were held and well attended. We were delighted that so many students came forward to stand for election.
Students also have representation through the Student Council which meet weekly with a member of the leadership team. There have also been trips to Parliament, the London Assembly and visits by local MPs to school on a regular basis.
Rule of Law
Students focus on this in their Year 8 Scheme of Work during the Autumn Term which focuses on rights and responsibilities. Outside agencies deliver workshops on County Lines and Knife Crime to help support delivering the curriculum in our local context and students are taught about the age of criminal responsibility.
In Year 10, whilst completing a RSE unit of work, they learn about the law in relation to consent and other legal matters relating to RSE. Understanding of the law in relation to human rights is a key tenet of the LIFE curriculum.
Individual Liberty
Students look at universal human rights in Year 9 and what it means to live in a free society. In Year 10 they look at what it means to live in a democratic society and contrast this with other countries/elements of society (eg. Extremist groups) where liberty is neither celebrated nor tolerated. Students look at how radicalisation occurs and people can be vulnerable to recruitment from antidemocratic elements in society and we look at how this can be pre-empted and prevented.
Mutual Respect
Respect is one of our six core values and is a key tenet of our work across the school. Our leadership schemes give points for students who have shown respect and assemblies, the pastoral scheme of work at tutor time and the work of our other extra-curricular groups within the LIFE department, such as the PRIDE group, emphasises the centrality of respect to our school and our agenda.
We expect all of our students to be respectful at all times. They must respect each other, school staff, their education and the wider community. This means they must show kindness to each other and behave with respect for the cultural, academic and interpersonal diversity of the student body. They must respect staff by following instructions and listening carefully when spoken to. They must respect their education by being punctual, ready to learn and working hard in their lessons.
Students must also respect the local community by ensuring that they conduct themselves appropriately to and from school and in the local area. Students must take individual responsibility for their behavioural choices and learning progress.
Tolerance
Tolerance of all regardless of gender, race, religion, sexuality or disability underpins our work as a school. Tolerance is at the heart of our PSHE policy, which is emphasised in the wide variety of examples given in PSHE lessons which celebrate and promote tolerance of the rich variety of people which make up our community. Students complete a unit of work called ‘Positive Messengers’ in Year 7 which celebrates the diversity of backgrounds of our students. Our behaviour expectations place a big emphasis of the fact that we expect tolerance of all and from all and that where students do not demonstrate this, the appropriate work follows to address this as well as sanctions where our expectations have not been met.