British values and PREVENT

At Bedlington Academy students encounter these principles throughout everyday school life. Listed below are some of the examples of how we promote these values in our school community.  

DEMOCRACY

Student voice is significant to life at Bedlington Academy. Our student elected school council play a strong role in our school. They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making the Academy a better place to learn.

Student questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. We know 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.

Wherever possible we use opportunities from the real world to educate students about democracy. For example, in the recent general election, and for the Northumberland Youth Parliament elections, we held mock elections in school. 

RULE OF LAW

Our students will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. We want our students to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the neighbourhood or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to.

This understanding of the importance of rules will be consistently reinforced through assemblies and our curriculum. Through philosophical enquiry in our RE lessons, we allow opportunities to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so that children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community including police, war veterans, the fire brigade and many more. We believe that clear explanations and real-life stories emphasise the importance of the rule of law.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY

We invest a great deal of time in creating a positive culture in school so that children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. We offer a range of clubs which students have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our e-safety and personal development curriculum, and through our RE lessons, we educate students about their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. At the Academy, we 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 core of our school life. Students learn to treat each other and staff with great respect, and these values are explicitly taught. This is evident when walking around the Academy and in the classrooms.

TOLERANCE OF THOSE WITH DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS

At the Academy, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. We strongly believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.

What to do if you have a concern if you are a student 

If you are worried that you or one of your friends is at risk of being radicalised (radicalisation means people having increasingly extreme political, social, or religious ideals), you need to speak to your teachers immediately. This could be other students having conversations with groups or individuals connected to extremism or looking at extremist materials on the internet. It could also be students having conversations around school that make you feel worried that they could be being drawn into dangerous situations or that their ideas are shifting away from what is normal. 

What to do if you have a concern if you are a member of staff, a parent or member of the public

If a member of staff in a school has a concern about a particular student they should follow the school’s normal safeguarding procedures, including discussing with the school’s designated safeguarding lead, and where deemed necessary, with children’s social care. 

You can also contact your local police force or dial 101 (the non-emergency number). They can talk to you in confidence about your concerns and help you gain access to support and advice. 

The Department for Education has dedicated a telephone helpline (020 7340 7264) to enable staff and governors to raise concerns relating to extremism directly.  

Concerns can also be raised by email to [email protected]. Please note that the helpline is not intended for use in emergency situations, such as a child being at immediate risk of harm or a security incident, in which case the normal emergency procedures should be followed. 

Information about PREVENT

All schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism". This duty is known as the Prevent duty.

To satisfy our Prevent duty we have put in place the following across our school:

• Promotion of British Values
• Staff training which has included online courses as well as frequent discussions in staff briefing 
• IT policies in place to prevent access to inappropriate material in school
• A broad and balanced curriculum that creates opportunities for debating issues connected to extremism
• A risk assessment and lockdown procedures which outlines perceived risks and how we guard against them
• Partnership with Northumberland Local Authority to ensure our procedures are consistent with child protection policies