Promoting British Values
The DfE states that schools 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 Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these values have been reiterated this year (2014).
Democracy:
Democracy is seen in practise in many different areas within our school. The children have the opportunity to stand for the School Council at the start of the year when the children in each class have the opportunity to vote for the person who they would like to represent them. Children elected to be on the School Council represent the views of their classmates on various issues. The Council then decides on issues that they would like to pursue through voting and adopting the issues which attract the biggest vote. The children throughout our school are frequently encouraged to work as teams, to make decisions by listening with respect to views of all parties. Where a decision cannot be made, voting is encouraged.
The Rule of Law:
The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, is reinforced in a range of different ways at school. Each class draws up a set of agreed class rules at the start of the school year. The need for laws and rules is reinforced when dealing with behaviour and in assemblies. 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.
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 pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and by developing the skills needed to manage the environment that they are in. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our teaching of e-Safety and PSHE. We also offer many opportunities for the children to develop the ability to make safe choices within their environment. These opportunities also exist in our range of after school clubs and at lunch and break time.
Mutual Respect:
The school promotes respect for each child through our behaviour policy which encourages children to respect each other and to show respect to all the adults in school. Good behaviour and respecting others is rewarded during our weekly Achievement Assemblies
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
Tolerance is promoted through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. The main religions are taught during RE lessons so that children can gain an understanding of each faith. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and have addressed the school about why their faith is important to them. We also use assemblies to celebrate the lives of people within our society who have fought against prejudices and prejudice-based persecution and these issues have been followed and supported by learning across the curriculum.