Promoting British values
Fort Pitt Grammar School promotes and upholds key British values in every aspect of its organisation and curriculum. The school operates no separate policy in order to guarantee compliance with the UK Government’s guidelines on spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC). Rather, SMSC – and the British values it encompasses – is embedded into every part of Fort Pitt’s practice, through its commitment to the four ‘excellences’ of academic achievement, community, appearance and environment.
Fort Pitt recognises the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
It follows equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. Fort Pitt is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its students.
The five British Values are:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Below is a brief summary, with concrete examples, of how the school upholds these five values in its daily practice.
Democracy
Our house system offers an induction into the processes of representative democracy for every student at Fort Pitt. Each house has a sixth form Head Girl and a team of four House Leaders elected by the whole school. In lessons across the curriculum, students learn about the unique benefits that democratic political systems confer upon their citizens.
The rule of law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Fort Pitt School. A behaviour policy with a clear statement of sanctions and rewards provides the framework within which every student must conduct herself. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to participate in various teams across the school, where they can learn first hand the organisational structures that deliver positive outcomes for the wider community. These include the student council; the prefect team; the Eco-team; sports teams; house teams; the healthy schools team; and the Peer and Cyber Mentor Support Team.
Individual liberty
At Fort Pitt, students are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Staff at Fort Pitt educate and provide boundaries for students to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. A well-established enrichment programme, offering a wide range of extracurricular clubs, encourages students to express themselves according to their interests and talents.
Mutual Respect
Fort Pitt students learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect and this is reiterated through its teaching and learning environments, over which students are expected to exercise leadership and responsibility. Vertical tutor groups ensure that older students play a real part in the lives of new younger students, to the benefit of students across the age spectrum.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Students are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school and celebrate festivities throughout the calendar year. The Philosophy and Ethics curriculum, which is compulsory for all students up to the end of KS4, provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. Assemblies foster the spiritual value of silence and reflection, encouraging students to meditate upon the stories and success of role models from all walks of life.
