Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) and British Values

What are we doing to ensure our students leave EMS with exceptional values?
How do we promote British Values in school?
The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College is committed to
encouraging students to respect fundamental British Values; we are
committed to teaching these values alongside our Catholic Faith.
The government set out their definition of British Values in the 2011
Prevent Strategy and these were reinforced in September 2014.
These new regulations will work alongside the requirements of the
Equalities Act.
The five key principles are:
democracy;
the rule of law;
individual liberty;
mutual respect;
tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
As a Catholic Community we are extremely proud of the education we offer our students.
Through a broad, balanced and progressive curriculum students explore values by way of
cross-curricular links, this is evident in the way that our Citizenship programme is mapped.
Students, staff and parents are actively challenged if they express opinions contrary to
fundamental British Values and we seek to promote a positive approach to all of the areas
detailed in the Prevent Strategy.
At EMS students will encounter these principles throughout everyday school life. In particular,
our promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding has been described by
OFSTED as The Catholic ethos, combined with the impact of the specialist and
international school status, has resulted in students outstanding spiritual, moral,
social and cultural development.
Here are some examples of how we promote these values in our school community:
Democracy
Student Voice is significant in regards to life at EMS. Our student elected form
representatives, House Captains and House Council and then School Council are all involved
in ensuring EMS is a great place to be and a better place to learn. All departments are asked
to complete at least 3 Student Voice surveys each year and because of this they have a great
amount of input in regards to what and how they learn. Student interviews also take place
throughout the year, in particular during lesson observations.
We strongly believe that the formation of the School Council and the active participation of
our students will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the
future.
The Rule of Law

We understand that our students will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives
and it is from this standpoint that we want to ensure our students know the differences
between right and wrong.
We want our students to understand that whether these laws govern the classroom, the
school community, the neighbourhood, the town or the country that they are in place for a
good reason and must be adhered to.
We use assemblies, for example, as a vehicle to reinforce the importance of rules. We also try
and involve our students in the creation and understanding of school rules so that it helps
them understand the reasoning behind the rules and the consequences if they are broken.
Through our Citizenship programme we allow opportunities for students to debate and
discussed the reasons for laws so that our students can recognise the importance of these for
their own and others protection. Throughout the academic year we welcome visitors into
school from all walks of life, for example: the police and the fire brigade. In PE, students are
taught to adhere to rules of fair play and how this aligns itself with whole school culture and
ethos.
Individual Liberty
We invest a great deal of time in creating a positive culture in our school; this is to ensure that
children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged.
In lessons, independent learning is often planned for so that learning is left for the child to
decide upon. We encourage children to choose the task that will challenge them, giving them
more freedom to determine their own learning. We offer a range of extra-curricular activities
that students have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests and their individual
talents. Through our e-safety lessons in ICT and Citizenship lessons, we educate children on
their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise
these freedoms safely. At EMS we strongly believe that valuing choice and freedom in daily
school life will foster a value for individual liberty as the children embark upon their adult
lives.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart and soul of what we do here at The English Martyrs School and
Sixth Form College.
Students learn to treat every member of staff and each other with great respect, compassion
and dignity. This is evident when walking around the school and college; OFSTED stated:
Students behaviour is good and students feel very safe. It is often exemplary
around the school and in the dining hall. and Behaviour around the school is
excellent. Students are courteous and respectful. They care about each other and
speak warmly about the relationships they have with their teachers and other
adults. Sixth-form students are excellent role models for those in the main school.
Our school motto of Strength Through Unity permeates throughout our community. Through
collective worship, liturgies are held to mark such events as Armistice Day and the 9/11
tragedy; each House has an adopted charity and local charity workers have spoken in
assemblies to promote their work.
In History, students study the Holocaust which has obvious links to morality and responsibility
and students are encouraged to reflect on the reasons behind the atrocity. In science,
students explore genetic variation, whilst in geography students look at the One Child Policy
and discuss morality of giving aid to poorer countries.
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs
As part of our school community there are, currently, 12 different religions and 27 different
languages. This truly exemplifies how we offer a culturally rich and diverse community and
curriculum. As part of our RE curriculum all major religions are studied and respected.
At EMS we strongly believe that tolerance and respect is gained through knowledge and
understanding. Through our curriculum provision and the routines of our daily school life we

strive to demonstrate respect and tolerance and help children become more knowledgeable
and understanding young people and future citizens who can build a better Britain for the
future.
Updated: 19.10.2016
Review Date: 01.09.2017