British Values

 

PROMOTING BRITISH VALUES

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and in 2014, the DfE 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.” Whereas previously, the requirement on schools was to RESPECT the values, the clarification in 2014 requires schools to ACTIVELY PROMOTE these values.

At Woodfield Primary School we aim for our children to become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background. Our Seven Whole School Values link closely with British Values and run as golden threads throughout our school approach. Self-esteem is our first school value. At Woodfield, we believe strongly in the importance of recognising the talents and successes of ourselves and others, and believing in our own abilities. Our curriculum is ambitious, and we expect our children to work hard, taking pride in both presentation and content. Through our varied curriculum, we teach our children to respect themselves, each other, adults and the world around them. Children learn about themselves and others, both in locality and around the world. Our growth mindset approach and belief in ourselves helps us to not give up and learn the lesson that resilience and perseverance breeds success. At Woodfield, we take responsibility for our own choices and actions. Our focus on empathy helps our children to develop appreciation, understanding, tolerance and admiration for other cultures, societies and beliefs and people who are both the same and different. Through working together both inside and outside of class, children learn to accept alternative opinions, and show kindness, care and consideration for each other. Finally, good manners permeate through every aspect of our school, and are a constant feature of our teaching, play and all interactions.

In addition, we promote the basic British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs in the following ways:

Democracy:

Democracy is richly embedded within the school. Our Seven Whole School Values were developed in conjunction with all stakeholders, taking everyone’s views into account when they were re-developed and established in 2019. Within school, pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council, pupil questionnaires, Pupil Voice events, Eco Team, enterprise events, speaking informally with the headteacher, meeting with the SLT (Senior Leadership Team) and through being a Prefect or Play Leader. Our school behaviour and values policies involve rewards and sanctions; this is shared through all aspects of school life and also shared with parents, carers and children from Reception to Year 6.

The 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 dealing with behaviour and through school collective worship time. 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 a regular part of our calendar events and help reinforce this message. Pupils are taught the importance of and reasons behind our school ‘values’, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences and impact when the ‘values’ are not upheld. Each class agrees its own class rules at the beginning of the academic year. We have a variety of rewards which celebrate when children uphold the ‘values’ including Golden Apple Awards, Hot Chocolate with the Headteacher, individual nominations, class DoJos and the opportunity to be Star of the Week. These show children our values are special and in keeping them they will be rewarded. Bespoke Woodfield Values stickers are used to celebrate children’s active promotion of our values.

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 all pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and an empowering approach to 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 and PSHE/RHSE lessons. Pupils are further empowered through being part of a school and eco council and being able to take part in discussions which link directly to the senior leadership team or governors. Pupils are given the freedom to make a wide range of choices - from attending extra-curricular clubs, to supporting fund raising events, to representing school at wider local authority events.

Mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs:

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. We are an inclusive school where everyone is valued and has a contribution to make to the school. As a school which holds values at the core of its ethos, our school Values and Behaviour policies have evolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’. Respect is one of our values taught explicitly within lessons, collective worship and within the ethos of our School. It is shared with home through newsletters and website information. Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others as do older children who have suitable, age-related tasks and responsibilities and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour.  Our children in Years 5 and 6 thoroughly enjoy the responsibility of being Buddies to our younger children in Y1 and Reception. This relationship contributes to a significant sense of mutual respect throughout the school.

Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs: at Woodfield Primary School we have an increasingly diverse intake and we use this to support our children to learn from each other by sharing and celebrating their different faiths and cultures. All different faiths and beliefs are explored and celebrated through assemblies, RE sessions, visitors into school and trips and visits out. Collective worship and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying are followed up and supported by learning in RE and PSHE/RHSE. Children within our school with different faiths are encouraged to share their practices and special celebrations enabling a sharing of knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Our school also has a link with the St Michael’s Church and we have a visiting minister who regularly leads assemblies for us.

 

The resource ‘PicNews’ is used weekly in assemblies and class to focus on particular aspects of issues in the news and draw out links to both British Values and Protected Characteristics in order to illustrate and ‘bring to life’ the values for our children. Sessions are interactive and children are encouraged to debate, question and share their opinions on current affairs in a supportive, open and accepting arena. Thoughts are captured and presented on a dynamic, weekly display in a central place in school. Newsround is watched regularly in classrooms, with the opportunity for children to informally discuss, question and debate issues in a smaller environment.

 

Specific curriculum links to School and British Values are detailed within individual Subject Intent Statements and on individual Class Long Term Curriculum Maps.

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