The Seckford Education Trust is committed to creating a supportive working and learning environment for all our staff, student and pupils. We are proud to celebrate our rich and diverse community and to uphold a culture in which the rights and dignity of individuals are respected.
We are against all forms of discrimination and prejudice. We oppose all forms of intolerance towards any group, however manifested – including anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia or racism. We have zero tolerance of any form of discrimination, harassment or victimisation.
Equality of opportunity is at the heart of our values and we actively support our diverse community so that all of our student, pupils and staff are able to achieve their full potential.
British Values statement
Introduction
As part of our vision to inspire and enable each and every young person, we understand that character education is every bit as crucial to our students’ development as academic success. Our ‘6Cs to success’ complement the five fundamental British values identified by the Department for Education:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.
In addition to our commitment to providing a broad and balanced curriculum that develops students’ social, moral, spiritual and cultural understanding, the Seckford Education Trust takes the promotion of fundamental British values and the prevention of extremism as fundamental to its mission.
We define extremism as it is set out in the 2011 Prevent strategy as:
Vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.
Tolerance and Respect for Diversity
Our school rules ready; respectful; safe embodies our mission where “respect” is defined as “caring about each other and appreciating our individual skills and needs.”
Our schools are fully inclusive in its ethos and our students are quick to expose and reject prejudiced attitudes and are confident to approach form teachers, subject teachers and pastoral staff if they see intolerance.
Through our curriculum design, especially PSHE and RE, we provide ample opportunities for students to reflect on religious and cultural diversity and to respect difference.
Democratic Values
The Seckford Education Trust promotes democratic values in its structures. The management structure is democratic with key improvement themes driven by Trust hubs. In the same manner, student leadership functions democratically, with councils that reflect the structures of British parliamentary democracy. We also set great store in gathering views on key issues through large scale questionnaire activities for students, parents and staff and act upon the feedback received.
We give regular assemblies that discuss the reality of extremism and give students space to discuss these issues in our lessons.
Safeguarding and Reporting Concerns
Our risk assessment of the dangers of religious extremism and far-right extremism is relatively low, but we are vigilant in our safeguarding.
Internet access across the Trust is carefully filtered to exclude inappropriate extremist content. We train staff to be observant towards the signs of radicalisation amongst students. We also meet with pupils and students to explore their experience of extremism in their communities and online social networks so that our assessment of risk is constantly under review.
Students do have sessons exploring the risks associated with extremism as part of their core personal, social, health and emotional (PSHE) lessons. They learn about the factors that can lead individuals to be radicalised and the impact that extremist views and acts can have.
Staff, pupils, students or parents and carers who have any concerns about individuals at risk are invited to contact:
SET Felix Primary
Any safeguarding concern should be reported to the DSL in the first instance, then the ADSL or Head of School. Please only contact the nominated Trustee for Safeguarding when making a disclosure would not be appropriate to the DSL or ADSL.
The DSL and ADSL can be contacted on 01394 283374.
 | Ms Helen Brunning Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) pastoralsupportmanager@maidstoneandcauston.org |
 | Mrs L Thompson Alternate Designated Safeguarding Lead (ADSL) |
 | Mrs J Hearn Alternate Designated Safeguarding Lead (ADSL) |
 | Mrs A Clifton Alternate Designated Safeguarding Lead (ADSL) |