DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BRITISH VALUES
Coombe Boys’ School is dedicated to helping the local community. It acknowledges the United Kingdom's multiethnic, multireligious, and dynamic nature. It also recognises the critical role it must play in preventing intimidation or radicalization of groups or people within the school by anyone seeking to improperly or unlawfully influence them.
Coombe Boys’ School adheres to equal opportunity policies that aim to prevent discrimination against any person or group, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or other similar characteristics. Beyond the official curriculum under examination, it is vital that Coombe educates its students for adult life, preparing them for the diverse and dynamic community in which they will live and work. A crucial component is having a grasp of British values.
The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools. These include:
democracy
the rule of law
individual liberty
mutual respect
tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Coombe Boys School employs techniques that go beyond the National Curriculum to ensure that students achieve these results.
The following examples highlight some of the strategies Coombe Boys School uses to instil British values.
Democracy
Elections are held for key positions within the school, such as the Junior Leadership Team, Head Boy and Head Girl posts, Prefect positions, and Sports Captain positions. This encourages the idea of speaking freely and working together to address needs and problems.
Students have the opportunity to vote on the charity that their House will support and the specifics of their social action initiative.
The concept of democracy is covered in the Humanities curriculum as well as in assemblies where presentations on people like Greta Thunberg's work and commemorations of historical events like the end of World War One help students understand how crucial democracy is to maintaining a civilised society.
The rule of law
Rights and responsibilities are emphasised through the work undertaken in PSHE and tutor time.
In Humanities students are taught the value and the reasons behind the laws that govern and protect us and by studying events such as the Holocaust which demonstrate the potential appalling consequences of the absence of the rule of law.
Individual liberty
Students at Coombe Boys’ School are encouraged to exercise their right to free speech by representing their views to their Student Voice, Year Council and Whole School Council.
Tutor time and PSHE sessions encourage students to know their rights, but also the responsibilities that come with those but staff also work hard to set clear boundaries so that students can make informed choices in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Coombe Boys School has a clear Anti-bullying Policy and Behaviour Policy.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart of the Coombe community, our statement of our values and ethos. We expect all members of our community to treat each other with respect, kindness and integrity. Students learn through their interactions with staff, in assemblies and in tutor time that their behaviour has an impact on others.
Students are encouraged to reach out to communities who are less fortunate than themselves and each year raise hundreds of pounds for diverse and deserving charities, demonstrating their respect for those who live in different circumstances.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Tolerance is emphasised through our EDI programme, our school values and the Coombe 3.
Students benefit from the opportunity to visit different communities, those of different faiths and those from other continents and cultures.
Our assembly themes, the KS3 and KS4/5 RS curriculum provide a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures.
Above all, we want boys to leave Coombe Boys’ School with a set of principles that will guarantee they continue to make constructive contributions to society and the world when they enter adulthood. We urge students to understand their place in a multicultural society.