At Holy Family, we recognise the importance of supporting students to achieve academic success while preparing them for life in modern Britain. A key part of this preparation involves promoting and reinforcing British values. We strive to ensure that our students accept, respect, and tolerate differences, growing up with a strong sense of inclusion and the understanding that they can both contribute to and benefit from being part of the wider British community.

Our students embody British values through our core principles of Faith, Integrity, Compassion, Perseverance, and Community. These values help them become well-rounded individuals who respect themselves and others, both within our school and the wider local and global community, equipping them to be responsible citizens in modern Britain.

British Values are defined as the following:

Democracy

A culture built upon freedom and equality, where everyone is aware of their rights and responsibilities.

The rule of law

The need for rules to make a happy, safe and secure environment to live and work.

Individual liberty

Protection of your rights and the rights of others around you.

Mutual respect & tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Understanding that we all do not share the same beliefs and values. Respecting those values, ideas and beliefs of others whilst not imposing our own onto them.

British values and Faith

As a faith-based school, we do not see these values as exclusively British. They are universal, relevant to all of humanity, and grounded in the teachings of Christ, reflected in scripture, and embodied in our school motto, Utunum Sint – We are one. At Holy Family, we promote these values by living out our ethos and culture, inspired by the scripture John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches….”

Ways in which we promote British values

Democracy

Our students are encouraged to discuss topics of interest during their lessons and form time, express their views and make meaningful contributions to the running of the school on matters that directly involve students. Students regularly can have their voices heard through student questionnaires surveys.

We have an active and enthusiastic school council whose members are elected by their peers. The school Council on behalf of the students always try to contribute to school improvements.

The principle of democracy is explored in the curriculum as well as during assemblies, form times and special days.

Where possible, significant events at local, national and international level are discussed during form time, as part of PSHE programme and in assemblies.

• Classroom Activities: school council, election of the student council representatives
• School Wide Initiatives: school council, advent and Easter fundraising

Rule of law

Here at Holy Family, we uphold a consistent set of values and rules designed to highlight and reward positive behaviour. Our expectations are clear, fair, and regularly reinforced during assemblies.

Students are supported in understanding the difference between right and wrong—whether in lessons, assemblies, or social times.

We also encourage respect for the law, with regular visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service, to help strengthen this message.

Our Behaviour Policy and Anti-Bullying Policy establish a zero-tolerance approach to any form of aggression, abuse, or violence.

• Classroom Activities:

• School-Wide Initiatives: Behaviour & Rewards Showcase Assemblies:  restorative practices where students reflect on behaviour and repair harm.
• Enrichment: external speakers and appropriate visits

Individual liberty

Within school, students are actively encouraged to make their own choices, supported by a safe and nurturing environment. They are guided to develop their self-awareness, self-esteem, and confidence.

Students learn to take responsibility for their behaviour and actions, with our pastoral team and staff consistently reinforcing the importance of making positive choices.

Students are also taught to understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms safely—for example, through e-safety education in Core Computing and PSHE lessons.

Vulnerable pupils are protected, and stereotypes are actively challenged. We maintain a strong anti-bullying ethos, addressing all forms of bullying promptly, supported by a robust system for recording incidents on CPOMS.

Students also take on important roles within the school community, such as Senior Students, Prefects, Sports Leaders, Faith Ambassadors, Mental Health Ambassadors, Shades Ambassadors.

• Classroom Activities: Various assemblies on Black History month, Martin Luther King Day, history and RE lessons, Holocaust memorial.
• Online safety day / LA be safe be cool
• School-Wide Initiatives: Wellbeing Day; Kaleidoscope club
• Enrichment: Variety of extra curriculum activities

Mutual respect and Tolerance

Mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs are taught through the RE curriculum and during diversity celebration weeks.

Respect is consistently promoted throughout our school and is a core value upheld by all faith communities represented within it. Students recognise that respect is expected for all individuals—both adults and children alike.

Students are supported in developing an appreciation and respect for their own culture as well as the cultures and ways of life of others.

Staff and students are encouraged to challenge any prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour or language.

Through the PSHE and RE curriculums, students are guided to discuss and respect differences between people, including differences in faith, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexuality, and family circumstances. The Equality Act 2010 and its protected characteristics are revisited each year during the PHSE programme.

Assemblies and discussions addressing prejudice and prejudice-related bullying are reinforced through learning in RE and PSHE lessons.

We offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum where major world religions are explored and respected, and global perspectives are integrated across many subjects. This approach gives students the opportunity to reflect on both our core values and British values.

• Classroom Activities: Anti-bullying week, Black history week.
• School-Wide Initiatives: Cultural celebration weeks
• Enrichment: Holocaust survivors talk, speakers from other religious communities’ visits to places of worship such a Mosque and Temple

Our commitment to the Prevent Strategy

All staff at Holy Family College are fully committed to, and aware of, their responsibilities under the government’s Prevent Strategy as part of our ongoing safeguarding and child protection efforts. Every member of staff has received Prevent training and understands how to recognise and respond to any issues related to extremism or radicalisation, whether they occur inside or outside the school.​​​​​​​