What are ‘fundamental British values’?

Schools are required to provide for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. As part of this requirement, schools are expected to actively promote fundamental British values.
The government defines these as:

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

What does this mean for my child?


Schools’ programmes for learning about fundamental British values are designed to prepare children and young people for life in modern Britain.
This includes helping pupils understand:

  • The importance of combatting discrimination
  • How we can influence decision-making by taking part in democratic processes like voting and petitioning
  • Our freedom under British law to choose different faiths and beliefs
  • That the law is there to keep us safe

What does this look like in our school?

  • How British values are embedded in different curriculum subjects

Goole Academy includes, in suitable parts of the curriculum – as appropriate for the age of pupils – material on the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of democracy, and how democracy and the law works in Britain, in contrast to other forms of government in other countries

  • How teaching about British values will be adapted for the age/maturity of pupils

Goole Academy ensures all pupils within the school have a voice that is listened to and demonstrate how democracy works by actively promoting democratic processes such as a school council whose members are voted for by the pupils.

  • Pupil councils and other forms of democracy in action

Goole Academy uses opportunities such as student surveys to promote fundamental British values and provide pupils with the opportunity to learn how to influence change within the school environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child still be able to express their faith at school?

Absolutely. One of the fundamental British values is respect and tolerance of people with different faiths. British law protects people’s freedom to hold their own beliefs.

Any prejudice or discrimination towards pupils on the basis of their faith goes against the fundamental British values and will not be tolerated.

How will this affect my child’s lessons?

The curriculum provides lots of opportunities to look at fundamental British values. Your child will also have some experience of this through their EPC (Ethics, philosophy and citizenship) lessons, assemblies and tutor time activities.

Schools should look out for these opportunities and encourage children to think about how the values link into the topics they are studying.

Will there be major changes to the school’s ethos?

Our school’s ethos already includes many aspects of the government’s fundamental British values. 
Promoting fundamental British values will reinforce, not change, our current ethos.

Where to go for more information

 Contact the school

If you have any questions or concerns about British values and what it means for your child, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

External information

The following guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) may be useful for further information:

Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools, GOV.UK – DfE
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/380595/SMSC_Guidance_Maintained_Schools.pdf