Values are the latest focus for politicians concerned about children’s education. But a Catholic school should instead turn its attention to timeless virtues, rather than notions shaped by fashion

Government has decreed: fundamental British values must be promoted at every level in our schools. These values are defined as democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect for, and tolerance of, those with different faiths and beliefs, and those without faith.

Schools are accustomed to endless demands for change by government, but when the edict of 27 November 2014 from the Department for Education telling all schools that they must now promote “British values” at every level, there was a certain degree of consternation. This was further heightened by the revelation that Ofsted would be inspecting school effectiveness in delivering these values through spiritual, moral, social and cultural education (SMSC), the curriculum and school ­leadership.

After head teachers had discovered what these values were, they were naturally also keen to discover who, if anyone, had been consulted and how the decision was made to identify these four values as fundamental British values. They also wanted to know if they were accepted by everyone.