Sundridge Primary School

TEACHING BRITISH VALUES

 Promoting British Values at Sundridge Primary School

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 Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated this year (2014). At Sundridge Primary School these values are reinforced regularly throughout the curriculum and in the following ways:

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British Values

As well as promoting good social and moral values within school through our Character Education, RSE and PSHE Curriculum, we also promote the following fundamental British values: Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual liberty, Mutual respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. We do this through our character of DR TIMP.

At Sundridge Primary these values are part of the whole curriculum. These values are reinforced regularly and below are just some of the ways that this happens:

·         D – DEMOCRACY – Democracy plays a prominent part within our school. Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard in school. The school carries out regular questionnaires with the pupils to ascertain their thoughts and feelings about our school. The findings are shared with staff and Governors and form part of the school’s self-evaluation and future planning. The Student Council are elected democratically, voting in each class at the beginning of each year.

·         R – 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 addressing behaviour and through school assemblies. Children are involved in setting class charters; helping pupils to make decisions and choices that are acceptable to the school community. 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 through their bespoke PHSE lessons. 

·         T – TOLERANCE OF THOSE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS – This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in our culturally diverse school and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity through our bespoke curriculum. We celebrate the religious festivals of the world religions represented by the children – Christmas, Easter, Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year. Displays around school demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that all individuals are valued and treated equally within our school.

• I – INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY – Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Pupils are explicitly taught how to choose safely, through E-Safety in computing lessons, PSHE and RE lessons. Children are given the freedom to make choices to participate in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities all of which are free of charge to all our families.

·         M – MUTUAL RESPECT – The highly positive relationships between staff and pupils are excellent examples of mutual respect. Assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown take place and the message is reinforced by adults throughout the school. Our curriculum is designed to promote respect with a diverse representation of authors, characters and themes.

·         P – PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS – Through assemblies, our curriculum, behaviour system and relationships we promote the protected characteristics of: age; gender reassignment; being married or in a civil partnership; being pregnant or on maternity leave; disability; race; religion or belief; sex or sexual orientation.

·         M – MUTUAL RESPECT – The highly positive relationships between staff and pupils are excellent examples of mutual respect. Assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown take place and the message is reinforced by adults throughout the school. Our curriculum is designed to promote respect with a diverse representation of authors, characters and themes.

·         P – PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS – Through assemblies, our curriculum, behaviour system and relationships we promote the protected characteristics of: age; gender reassignment; being married or in a civil partnership; being pregnant or on maternity leave; disability; race; religion or belief; sex or sexual orientation.