The Blue Coat School is committed to the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of our students. This includes 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.

Democracy:

We promote democracy through our curriculum in History, Politics, and Personal Development. In wider school life students participate in mock elections and have the chance to get their voices heard in our School Council, led by the Senior Prefect Team.

The rule of law:

We consistently reinforce our strong expectations of all our students through high-quality pastoral provision and the school behaviour policy. Students understand that everyone has a responsibility to be a considerate and positive member of the school and that there are consequences when rules are broken.

Individual liberty:

Our safe and supportive learning environment provides students with the space to express their own opinions and share their ideas. Activities such as Debate Club support students to articulate themselves in a clear and respectful manner. Rights and responsibilities, and support for this with the Protected Characteristics, are taught explicitly within the Personal Development Curriculum.

Mutual respect:

Shaping Character is one of our core school values. Staff and Sixth Form students always model respectful behaviour, leading the way for younger members of our school community. Respect is discussed explicitly during form time, assemblies, and the Personal Development curriculum, supported by teaching across all subject areas. Respect is also the focus of any one-to-one discussions with students regarding behaviour. We are also proud to participate in the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme.

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs:

At The Blue Coat School, we are extremely proud of the diverse cultural and religious backgrounds of our students. Our wide-ranging enrichment provision is a testament to the range of interests and beliefs our students hold. We are excited to be working towards the Rainbow Flag Award. Our Religious Studies curriculum discusses and celebrates a wide range of faiths and beliefs. We pride ourselves on our inclusive school community.