British Values

The Department for Education states 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  
• mutual respect
•  tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

As a school that serves a richly diverse community, we take our responsibility to promote community cohesion, generate a respect for difference and individual rights seriously. We recognise that British Values underpin the understanding of what it is to be a citizen in modern and diverse Britain. 

The study of British Values allows children to develop respect and understanding of the beliefs and cultures of others around them. Through the teaching of British Values, we aim to develop pupil voice and links with our local community. Pupils are encouraged to regard all faiths, races and cultures with respect: acknowledging that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

British Values are discussed, taught and reinforced through regular assemblies, school council and pupil voice sessions. Children are taught the meaning of each Value and are able to reflect on how these affect their actions. As well as actively promoting and modelling these values, we also work hard to embed them into learning across all curriculum areas through our Golden Threads: Religion, Music, Social, Rulers & Democracy, Science, Technology and Innovation, Environment and Art.

We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school.  We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world. We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British Society and to the world.

In addition, the school promotes British values through:

• A school council whose members take part in regular meetings and decision making (democracy)
• A flag representing all the countries of the children in our school (mutual respect)
• A religious education (RE) curriculum that teaches about the beliefs and practices of all major religious groups (tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs)
• PSHE lessons and assemblies that provide opportunities to deepen and develop understanding of many aspects of topics which reflect our community and the British culture (individual liberty).