BRITISH VALUES
“The values I’m talking about – a belief in freedom, tolerance of others, accepting personal and social responsibility, respecting and upholding the rule of law – are the things we should try to live by every day.”
David Cameron, prime minister - 2014
The Department for Education define British values as having 5 different elements:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
The promotion of British values and ethos is a key part of life at Barnsole Primary School, they are an integral and long standing element to our approach to teaching and learning and the wider school community.
The following information highlights just a few of the ways that these values form part of our everyday school life.
How does Barnsole promote the British Values?
We ensure that through our school vision, values, rules, curriculum and teaching we promote tolerance and respect for all cultures, faiths and lifestyles. We value the ethnic backgrounds of all our pupils and families and undertake a variety of events and lessons to celebrate and explore these alongside other cultures in our country.
We have found this approach to be enriching for all parties as it teaches tolerance and respect for the differences in our community and the wider world. We believe that we have a duty to prepare our children for life in modern Britain and to keep them safe.
Democracy
Children, parents and staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard at Barnsole. We value the voice of the children and promote a democratic process to elect our house captains and School Council members. The election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: candidates make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative, pupils vote using ballot boxes, elected members are introduced in assembly, across the school. Made up of representatives from each class, the School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes.
We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.
The Rule of Law
Rules and laws are an important part of school life and in wider society. We regularly reinforce their importance through assemblies and discussions about behaviour choices. At the start of each year, every class agrees its own clear and shared set of class rules that complement the school rules.
Pupils learn why rules and laws exist, how they protect us, the responsibilities they bring and what happens when they are not followed. These messages are reinforced through a range of activities, including visits from the police and fire service, Religious Education lessons, sport and other subjects, e-safety teaching, swimming sessions, PSHE lessons and outdoor learning.
Individual Liberty
Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment and empowering education, and by building positive relationships with all our children, based on mutual respect and trust, we aim to boost children’s self-esteem and give them the confidence to make good choices. Children often find themselves in situations where they will need to make a choice; this may be about how they will complete a task in class, which extra-curricular club they want to attend after school, or what they will do when someone is unkind to them on the playground. Empowering children to make choices that are considered and safe, will help them in a range of situations, both at school and beyond.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect and a strong sense of community are at the heart of our school ethos. At Barnsole School, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. We believe that tolerance is developed through knowledge and understanding.
Through our curriculum and the routines of daily school life, we promote tolerance and help children become informed, respectful citizens who are ready to contribute positively to a better Britain.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Barnsole School is situated in a culturally diverse community, and we actively celebrate and promote this diversity with our children. Assemblies regularly reflect a range of faiths and cultures through stories, celebrations and shared experiences, supported by our Religious Education and PSHE lessons.
Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs is a key focus in RE, where children develop an understanding of religious diversity and the practices of faiths represented in the UK. Members of different faiths are invited to share their knowledge, and pupils visit a variety of places of worship to enrich their learning.
We believe it is vital that children develop an understanding of the rich cultural diversity of British society. Guided by our core curriculum driver, “Empowering every child, nurturing diversity, fostering lifelong curiosity and resilience,” pupils are taught to appreciate and respect difference in all its forms.
How are the British Values celebrated?
As a whole school, Remembrance Day celebrations are held annually where children purchase poppies and a minute's silence is held in a dedicated Remembrance Assembly, with military representatives. We have always celebrated a pattern of traditions and festivals across the year e.g. Harvest Festival, Easter and Shrove Tuesday to name but a few; we also annually organise a range of Christmas celebrations including a KS1 and KS2 carol concerts in the local community Methodist Church and Early Years Nativity. More recently we have built into our school calendar more modern ‘events’ such as Children in Need, Red Nose Day (Comic Relief), Sports Relief, Citizenship Award and World Book Day. All of these events are part of our heritage and very much part of our future, and they all help to enhance the children’s experience of school in modern day Britain.
We strongly believe that our children need to be taught the laws and heritage of Britain and feel a sense of belonging without sacrificing their own identity. Respect for all and tolerance of all faiths and backgrounds is paramount at Barnsole Primary School.