Promoting Fundamental British Values.

In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is "right" and "wrong", all people living in England are subject to its law.

The Key Values are:

• democracy;
• rule of law;
• individual liberty;
• mutual respect;
• tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

It is important that our pupils are ready for their life in modern day Britain.  As a school we positively promote British Values in order to encourage them to be good citizens that show mutual respect and tolerance to one another.  Therefore, we promote these values at every given opportunity.  In fact, they are embedded and thread throughout our school.  For example, during our Friendship Week and through assemblies as well as in lessons across the curriculum.

Democracy

We have a school council that meets and decides on things we would like in school.  The pupil council is involved in team meetings both as the council on their own and then with the Head Teacher and Chair of Governors to discuss their ideas and, through this, pupils are directly involved in decision making across the school.  The children have the opportunity for leadership when they are involved in interviews for new staff appointments for example. 

Our head boy and girl were voted for by the whole school after they canvassed their profiles and  put themselves forward for the role.  This creates a culture built upon freedom and equality, where everyone is aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Rule of Law

In school we promote the importance of the rule of law through such things as having a shared classroom code of practice, we also have playground rules. 

Marking and feedback, as well as homework policies set clear boundaries which are explained to pupils. 

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves, and the consequences when laws are broken.  Through our whole school approach, we enable children to develop the language and strategies to solve conflict and to right wrongs.  Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help to reinforce this message.

Accountability is stressed to all stakeholders including staff, pupils and Governors.

We teach our children to be leaders in many contexts, and they understand that the rules they have are there to keep them safe and happy in all the learning they take part in.  This extends to visits and learning outside of the school, acting as ambassadors while on school trips.  This level of responsibility and understanding from our children means that teachers can organise engaging and exciting school trips.   

Individual Liberty

We have a positive ethos in our school, that promotes our community school, we are 'working together to achieve our best', and this ensures that our community is a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged.  In lessons, learning objectives are routinely used to give pupils the opportunity to set themselves personal challenges. We encourage our pupils to aim high and to choose the task that will challenge them, giving them more freedom to determine their own learning.  We are proud of our range of enrichment,  support opportunities and clubs that pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests.

Through our E-Safety, mission statement, assemblies and PSHE we educate our pupils on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely.  

We believe that valuing choice and freedom in daily school life will foster a value for individual liberty as our pupils develop.

Mutual Respect

We value positive relationships between all adults and children in our school, and see this as being key to enabling all children to access their learning, in a welcoming and safe environment.  Assemblies regularly cover the theme of ‘respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions related to what this means and how we show it.  Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others.  All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

When a child does well, their achievement is celebrated during assemblies and work is displayed for everyone to see their hard work and positive approach to learning.  

Some children have worked together in making clubs for other children to play games at lunch time showing their respect for one another, that they are prepared to give up their time to help others.  

Tolerance of other beliefs and faiths

Promoting tolerance is a common thread throughout our school.  We teach tolerance through the curriculum, particularly during RE lessons.  We promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures.  We have a 'on focus' display that highlights different religious celebrations at various times of the year.  One assembly per week will have a Religious or faith based theme.  This will then be embedded during lessons where we reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others.   

Actively promoting also means we also challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values.  We hold assemblies during difficult times when there may have been an extremist activities portrayed in the media and the children need to understand these events.