At Meridian High School, we believe that understanding and embracing Fundamental British Values is key to becoming an active, responsible citizen in a modern and diverse Britain. These values encourage students to celebrate our community, respect differences, and contribute positively to society. Our approach aligns with the Government’s Prevent strategy and the ethos of mutual respect and inclusion in line with the Teacher Standards.

The five Fundamental British Values we promote are: Democracy, Individual Liberty, Rule of Law, Mutual Respect, and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs. Here’s how they come to life at Meridian High School:

Democracy

Democracy means having a voice and understanding equality of rights. At Meridian, students experience democracy through:

• Weekly Votes for School sessions, where student opinions influence school decisions and policies.
• Termly surveys giving students the chance to shape school life.
• Student leadership teams reporting to key stakeholders.
• Visits to the Royal Courts of Justice and engagement in topical talks through The Economist.

Individual Liberty

Individual liberty encourages students to make informed choices and express themselves within safe boundaries. Examples include:

• A wide menu of clubs and extracurricular activities.
• Choice in school meals within healthy guidelines.
• Autonomy in academic pathway decisions.
• Freedom to express individuality, including hair colour and style.
• Encouragement to share opinions constructively in lessons.

Rule of Law

The rule of law means understanding that everyone is accountable to fair and enforced rules. At Meridian, this is reinforced through:

• A shared code of conduct reviewed by all students each term.
• Clear expectations in policies, marking, feedback, and home learning.
• Emphasis on accountability for staff, students, and parents.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is about recognising and valuing each person’s dignity. At Meridian, we foster this through:

• A student code of conduct.
• School values of Challenge, Learn, Achieve and behaviour values of Resilience, Ambition, Respect.
• An embedded Thrive approach supporting emotional development and positive behaviour.
• Expectations for smart dress for both students and staff.
• PSHE lessons that reinforce respectful interactions across all year groups.

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Tolerance encourages students to respect different faiths, cultures, and perspectives. At Meridian, students engage with this through:

• The World Views curriculum at Key Stage 3.
• Religious Studies at Key Stage 4.
• Tutor group and independent reading, featuring diverse biographies and literature.