School Logo

British Values

At Courthouse, we teacher children about the British values:

  • democracy,
  • the rule of law,
  • individual liberty, and


This ensures we are meeting the requirements of Section 78 of the Education Act 2002 in our provision of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) guidance.


Actively promoting these values means challenging opinions or behaviours in school that are contrary to fundamental British values. Attempts to promote systems that undermine fundamental British values would be completely at odds with our duty to provide SMSC. The Teachers’ Standards expect teachers to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside our school. This includes not undermining fundamental British values.


Through our provision of SMSC, we:

  • encourage respect for other people and


The list below describes the understanding and knowledge we help our children gradually develop as a result of our school promoting fundamental British values.

  • An understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies, such as the police and the army, can be held to account through Parliament, others, such as the courts, maintain independence
  • An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination.


It is recognised that it is not necessary for schools or individuals to ‘promote’ teachings, beliefs or opinions that conflict with their own, but nor is it acceptable for schools to promote discrimination against people or groups on the basis of their belief, opinion or background and such behaviour would not be tolerated at Courthouse.