British Values Statement

The DfE have recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

The Core Values determined by the DfE are:

Our aim as a school is for every child to become confident, creative, compassionate and curious learners and leaders who have a passion to live life to the full and change the world for the better.

We support the development and understanding of British Values in a range of ways throughout the year so they are an integral part of school life.

DEMOCRACY

Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council, Head boy and Head Girl, Sports Leaders and the Reading Leadership Team. The school council elections are run as ‘real elections’ to give a ‘real life’ experience. They will act as role models across the school and in the classroom through class votes for book choices, changes to the school environment and playground as well as class debates. Class discussions on the importance of voting and how to respectfully vote and accept the outcomes ensuring children understand the fairness of this system. The School Council will be involved in Learning Walks and will be responsible for spending a small budget, for example, on a new garden area for the playground and sharing the outcomes of their work through class discussions and whole school assemblies. Pupil questionnaire's will be conducted to ensure all pupil voices are heard. We will work closely with our local MP to learn more about democracy in the UK and we take part in ‘democracy Week’ as part of the national event. We also ensure that the children are aware of the local and national elections that are taking place using Newsround and other sources to ensure they have an understanding in an age-appropriate way.

MUTUAL RESPECT

Our school ethos and behaviour policy revolve around our Core Values (Hope, Compassion and Courage) and pupils have been part of discussions and worships related to what this means and how it is shown. We encourage the older children to help resolve low-level conflicts respectfully using the skills from our ‘Feelings Rainbow’. Posters around the school will promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and curriculum, as well as our behaviour policy. This is further embedded through choice of texts in the library.  As part of our work on teaching democracy, we also explicitly teacher respectful disagreement in debates and discussions, as part of this modelling respectful language when discussing differing opinions. Our staff all demonstrate through their behaviour and language an example of mutual respect.

TOLERANCE OF THOSE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS

This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Worships and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. A school display is changed monthly to share different cultural, religious and world events from around the world which are then spoken about in a worship. Pupils are encouraged to share their culture, religions and languages as part of learning and designated class time such as Circle Time. We have also carefully chosen stories and books that challenge assumption and stereotypes for our school library and reading spaces with classrooms.

THE RULE OF LAW

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour, through school worship and PSHE. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Community Safer Neighbourhood Team, Fire Service, NSPCC are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. As part of our approach to behaviour, we encourage restorative conversations to help pupils understand the impact of their actions and have accountability.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities; pupils are given the freedom to make choices. They are also taught how to self-regulate through work on our ‘Feelings Rainbow’ understanding how they can make safe choices and how and when to seek help.  During worships and circle time, we consider issues within the local and global context where groups or communities may not have the individual liberty or safety that we have in the UK.