We reinforce knowledge of our laws, public institutions and services in PHSEE lessons and weekly Year group assemblies through visits from a range of diverse topics and speakers and discussions in tutor time and lessons.

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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.

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The involvement of our students in the creation of the simple school ‘rules’ – ‘Be Prepared, Polite and Punctual’ helps them to understand the reasons behind the rules and the consequences if they are broken. Through enquiry in our tutor times and lessons we allow opportunity to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so that all our students can recognise the importance of these for their own protection

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Our PHSEE curriculum ensures that all students have access to knowledge about our public institutions. Students learn about the role of government and our monarch. Students learn about how laws are made, that they are created to protect us and the rationale behind them. Being involved in such programmes as “Speakers for Schools”, provides students with the chance to hear from and speak to influential members of our society.

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The Police School Liaison Officer is a regular visitor to our school, speaking to our students about a range of law and order matters. BBC employees have regularly visited us to help with media work, including BBC News School Report, whilst the Sixth Form Question Time gave our students contact with local MPs and prospective candidates from across the political spectrum. Throughout the year we welcome several 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 for our students.

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Since 2008 we have held the International School Award in recognition of our work with people in other countries and how we encourage respect for different cultural traditions and faiths; indeed this is at the heart of our work being inspired to make a difference in the global communities, as well as at at a local and national level. In September 2013 we were awarded Global Learning Programme Expert Centre coordinated by the Geography Department focussing with other partner primary and secondary schools on issues such as sustainability, social justice and poverty. We stress the importance of rejecting and combatting racial or other discrimination, with the knowledge that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law.

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Our partnerships with many European and African countries provide our students with direct links to their peers in other countries, some of whom are members of a different faith group. In the past working with our British Council Connecting Classrooms partnership countries in Senegal and Tanzania enables our students to learn about the similarities and differences in their daily lives.

Visits to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Iceland give our students the opportunity to experience life in other countries at first-hand. Visiting teachers from other countries, including Uganda, Iceland, Poland, Spain and France discuss life in their own country.

The Gospel values of showing love for your neighbour are at the heart of all we do. Through assemblies, tutor time and lessons all are reminded that everyone is unique, valuable and deserves to be treated as such. Students are reminded of the meditation by John Henry Newman, our Patron.