British Values
Promoting British Values at Longthorpe Primary School
The Department for Education state that there is a 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 were reiterated by the Prime Minister in 2014. At Longthorpe Primary School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways.
These values are taught explicitly through Personal, Social, Health and Emotional (PSHE), and Religious Education (RE). We also teach British Values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum. We have achieved the Ofsted accreditation of ‘Good’ which demonstrates evidence of our commitment to British Values.
The school takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through our assemblies and whole school systems and structures such as, electing and running a successful School Council and House Captains. We also actively promote the British Values through ensuring our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values. Actively promoting British Values also means recording and reporting pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.
At Longthorpe Primary School we uphold and teach pupils about the British Values which are defined as:
Democracy
Democracy is an important value at our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council, School House System and selection of class identities. The elections of members of the School Council and House captains are based on pupil votes. The children have worked together and agreed a set of values, which we at Longthorpe Primary School actively work and live by; these are our ‘Golden Rules’. As well as this children work together to devise their own class rules. We follow these codes and they are actively used by children and adults to influence others’ behaviour.
Rule of Law
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Our ‘Time Out System’ for behaviour is aligned to an agreed set of codes (see above) and if children are given verbal warnings this is always set against the agreed school behaviour code. 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 police and fire service are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
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 our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment, a planned curriculum and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety teaching, PSHE/SEAL lessons and social/emotional aspects of learning. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. signing up for extra-curricular clubs, choose the level of challenge in some lessons and are involved in child-led learning and choose a ‘Privilege’ group. In KS2 pupils learn about Children’s Rights.
MUTUAL RESPECT
Respect is one of the core values of our school. This can be seen and felt in our pervading ethos in school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small. The core value of respect at Longthorpe Primary School underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom. Children and adults alike, including visitors, are challenged if they are disrespectful in any way. Values are highly visible around the school and are part of our agreed codes.
tolerance of those with different faiths or 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 in our local community. Pupils actively participate in assemblies and discussions around prejudices and prejudice-based bullying and have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. We use opportunities such as the Olympics and World Cup to study and learn about life and culture in countries that participate. We employ staff who have English as an Additional Language and bring a varied cultural experience to Longthorpe School.