The Department for Education has guidance on promoting British Values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.
The principles are:
- A key part of education is to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background.
- Every school should promote the basic British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs.
- Young people should understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.
Examples of the understanding and knowledge pupils are expected to learn include:
an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
an understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
an acceptance that people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination