GES initiatives in promoting British Values
We are committed to instilling the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values are integral to our school ethos and are embedded throughout our curriculum and school life, preparing students for life in a globalised world.
Understanding British Values
The school defines British values as
- Democracy
- The Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
We take every step to embed these principles into everyday learning to ensure our students develop a strong moral compass, understand their rights and responsibilities and are equipped to contribute positively to society both locally and globally.
Integrating British Values Across the Curriculum
At GES, British values are thoughtfully integrated into various aspects of our curriculum and daily school activities:
Democracy
- Students’ representative council: Student leaders are elected democratically through voting are by their peers to represent the wider student body, contributing to school decisions and learning about democratic processes and representation.
- Students surveys: Regular surveys provide students with the opportunity to express their views, promoting a culture of open dialogue and respect for differing opinions.
- The democratically elected Head boy and Head girl are nominated to the School Governing Body enabling the students’ voice visible in the SGB.
The Rule of Law
- Behaviour Policies and Class Charters: Clear and consistent rules help students recognise the value of laws in maintaining a safe, fair, secure and respectful environment.
- Engagement with Law Enforcement: Visits from local police and emergency services offer practical insights into the role of laws and the consequences of not following them. We arrange regular sessions on laws of land, culture and values and drug prevention.
Individual Liberty
- Encouraging Self-Expression: Students are empowered to develop self-awareness, confidence, and independence. Various extracurricular activities enable them students to pursue personal interests and projects.
- E-Safety Education: Students are taught to use digital platforms responsibly, recognising their rights and understanding how to exercise freedom safely and respectfully. The BYOD policy and agreement is a positive steps towards safe use of digital resources and gadgets.
Mutual Respect
- Subjects such as PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) and cross-curricular events such as ‘International Cultural Fest’ conducted every year expose students and parents to a range of cultures and beliefs, promoting understanding and empathy.
- Anti-Bullying Initiatives: School-wide programmes reinforce respectful behaviour and ensure that all forms of bullying or discrimination are addressed promptly and effectively. Cyber bullying is also addressed in an effective manner through various measures.
Tolerance & Faiths
- Celebration of Cultural Events: Besides observing / celebrating various religious and key cultural event such as UAE National Day, International Day of Tolerance and International Day of Literature, we celebrate the cultural diversity in a yearly event, the International Cultural Day in which the cultural events, food habits and art forms are showcased by community from more than 12 countries.
- Educational Visits and Guest Speakers: Trips to various places / countries as well as talks from community leaders especially from parents give students valuable experiences that deepen their understanding of different faiths and worldviews.