The Week Ahead Updates and Communication for Parents

British Values? We call them Christian values!

You might have heard about schools needing to teach British values, democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance. But what’s missing is that God knew about these values long before the UK government did!

As a Christian school, I wanted to share how these  British values are actually Christian principles that have been around for a lot longer than our current government. 

Reflecting on Our Vision

We spent time on Wednesday at our PD day going deep into our school's vision and mission. It was a really valuable opportunity for all our teaching staff to reflect on why we do what we do, and how everything we teach connects back to our Christian foundation. These conversations reminded us just how central these God given values are to everything at Bradford Christian School, and they're not an add on, they're who we are.

Democracy:  Everyone Matters

When we talk about democracy and giving everyone a voice, we're really talking about the fact that every single person is made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). Whether it's through our school council or class votes, or just our daily conversations with children, we're teaching your children that their voice matters because God says they matter.

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."  Galatians 3:28

The Rule of Law: God's Way of Keeping Us Safe

Rules aren't just about keeping order, they reflect God's character of justice and fairness. The Bible is full of guidance about living well and treating others right, and that's what good laws are about.

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Individual Liberty: Freedom to Choose Wisely

God gave us free will, but He also calls us to use it responsibly. We're teaching your children that real freedom isn't about doing whatever we want,  it's about choosing to love and serve others. Our choices have an impact on others, we don’t live in a vacuum.

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."  Galatians 5:13

Mutual Respect and Tolerance: Love Your Neighbour

This one's simple: Jesus told us to "love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31). That means showing kindness, respect and compassion to everyone,  no matter who they are or what they believe.

"Love is patient, love is kind... It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking."  1 Corinthians 13:4-5

What This Looks Like at School

These aren't just words on a page, we are promoting these values every day through:

• Our assemblies and worship times
• How we expect students to treat each other in the playground and classroom
• What we learn across all our subjects
• Our school rules and expectations
• The example we try to set as a Christian community

British values are actually based on learning principles that come straight from God's heart. These aren't new ideas dreamed up by politicians, they're truths that have been around since the beginning, and we're so grateful to be able to share them with your children.

Thanks for trusting us with your children.