Promoting British Values

At Cassop Primary School we aim to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background.

Through our curriculum and spiritual, moral, social and cultural education we promote the basic British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs.

This ensures that the next generation understands the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

What are British Values?

Schools have been asked to explain how they promote British values. So what are ‘British’ values? There are certain values that have been attributed to being British, by the government and some institutions, and these fall into the following broad areas:

• Democracy
• The Rule of Law
• Individual Liberty
• Tolerance & Respect.

How do we specifically promote ‘British Values’ at Cassop Primary School?

We seek to promote British values in our policies and practice here at Cassop Primary. Our activities and the way we manage learning and behaviour, clearly reflect British values. We promote these values in the following ways:

Democracy

• Provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services – by discussing these whenever appropriate in curriculum work.
• Teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process – e.g. in our School Council work.
• Include in the curriculum information on the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain – e.g. when considering periods of history where democracy was not as fully developed as it is now.
• Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school – again through the work of the School Council.
• Organise visits to democratic establishments e.g. County Hall for debates.
• Hold ‘mock elections’ so pupils learn how to argue and defend points of view e.g. when electing representatives to the School Council for each class and when appointing House Captains to work in school.
•  Help pupils to express their views e.g. through English lessons and opportunities to present work and opinions.
• Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged e.g. through our interactions with pupils and the school’s behaviour system and discussing scenarios in assemblies and class PHSE work.

The Rule of Law

• Ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair e.g. by discussing these with pupils and establishing classroom rules with the pupils themselves.
• Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong e.g. during everyday interactions and discussions of stories, fables and other literary materials.
• Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made e.g. by showing how rules help everyone to interact in an orderly and fair manner and protect the vulnerable in society.
• Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals
• Include visits from the police in the curriculum e.g. have sessions with the Community Police Officers and visits from the Fire Service.
• Teach pupils aspects of both civil and criminal law and discuss how this might differ from some religious laws.
• Develop approaches focused on fairness and justice to resolve conflicts e.g. as part of sanctions in our approach to behaviour.

Individual Liberty

• Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence e.g. through all areas of teaching and learning in school.
• Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights e.g. through all of their interaction with adults and each other in school and through the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools agenda.
• Challenge stereotypes e.g. through SMSC/PHSE work and assemblies.
• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture – as enshrined in our policies for Anti-Bullying and Behaviour.
• Follow the UNICEF Rights Respecting schools agenda.

Understanding and knowledge covered by our curriculum and learning opportunities include:

• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process (through our School Council, School Sports Crew and UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools work)
• an understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law (through the teaching of RE following the local authority framework and UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools work)
• an acceptance that people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour (through the teaching of RE, following the local authority framework, PSHE including circle time and assemblies and UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools work)
• an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination (through whole school assemblies, UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools work and community involvement)