Promoting Fundamental British Values.

 

In accordance with The Department for Education, we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. 

Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

 

The Key Values are:

•    Democracy
•    Rule of law
•    Individual liberty
•    Mutual respect
•    Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs 
 

Promoting British Values at Wheatfields Infants' and Nursery 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.

 

At Wheatfields Infants' & Nursery School, these values are regularly promoted through high quality teaching, a rounded programme of assemblies and a positive behaviour policy which allows pupils to develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain.

 

Democracy

 

Pupil voice surveys are conducted yearly with the outcomes feeding into our whole school priorities. We have elected School Councillors and Sustainable Ambassadors. The elected members of the councils meet regularly to work towards school improvement actions which they have identified and planned for themselves. Outcomes of these meetings are conveyed to the SLT and Governing Body, as well as through half termly newsletters to parents.

 

The Rule of Law

 

The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, is consistently reinforced at Wheatfields Infants' and Nursery. Pupils are taught from an early age the rules of the school – Our Rainbow Code. These are our class rules, playground rules and general safety rules. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and 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 Services, 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 young pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E Safety and PSHE lessons. Personal, Social and Health education provides those skills which help our children to learn well individually and with others, to understand different viewpoints and to have mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. Much of this work is central to the school ethos, as we value and respect the children and teach them to respect each other. We are a school that is committed to teaching British values.

“Promoting the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is at the heart of the work of the school. Pupils eagerly learn about values such as tolerance, respect for others and how to recognise right from wrong.”

Ofsted Sept 2014

 

Mutual Respect

 

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around Core Values such as “Respect”, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school reinforce our Rainbow Code and this is reiterated through our classroom and “Gimme 5” learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy. This is also included in our Monday morning assembly focuses.

 

Tolerance of those of Different Faith and 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. Assemblies and discussions are followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Our Monday and Tuesday morning assemblies reflect the different religions within our school, with recent focuses on Sukkot, Divali and Eid.

“Assemblies make a major contribution to the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, such as when visiting speakers from different religious backgrounds talk to the pupils about their faiths. Given their young age, they are prepared well for life in modern Britain.”

Ofsted 2014