British Values at Richard Hill CE Primary School

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 British values, as defined by the government are:

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

These British Values are promoted throughout the curriculum, across the whole school. They are also seen in the school ethos, policies, assemblies, special events and cultural celebrations.

Democracy:

Britain is a democracy- this means that the people in Britain vote for the people who make the laws and decide how the country is run. If we didn’t have a democracy, just one person might be able to make all of the laws and that would be unjust. Both men and women above the age of 18 are allowed to vote. Until 1918, women were not allowed to vote and they fought very hard to secure this right.

Here at Richard Hill, children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. Classes hold annual elections in order to select two School council members for each year group. School council meet regularly to discuss issues raised by pupils and they are also involved in the recruitment of new staff, wherever possible. We also promote democracy as we vote for a range of things in school for example in our Poetry Performances.

The Rule of Law:

In Britain we have a police force who make sure people do not do the wrong thing and break the law- this helps us feel protected and keeps us safe. Our pupils will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. We want our pupils to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the neighbourhood or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to.

This understanding of the importance of rules is consistently reinforced through assemblies, in classes, around the school and through our curriculum. The involvement of our pupils in the creation of the school rules helps them to understand the reasons behind the rules and the consequences if they are broken.

At Richard Hill, we are lucky to have a relationship with our community police officers. They come into school to give talks on a number of topics and to answer any questions the children may have.

Individual Liberty:

In Britain, as long as we do not break the law, we can live as we choose to and have our own opinions about things.  In order for children to develop a sense of individual liberty, it is important that they are given choices in a safe and supportive environment. Here at Richard Hill, children are given the opportunity to make a variety of meaningful choices. This is discussed and embedded through our Positive Learning Policy. Investors in Pupils is a good way to promote Individual Liberty as the children have to set their own targets for their behavior, learning and attendance. This also extends to opportunities outside of school as the children are given the option to join a number of extracurricular activities, including football and computing.

We encourage Individual Liberty through our teaching of e-safety, educating the children on their rights and responsibilities online as well as supporting them in recognising how to be safe online.

Opportunities for children to share their thoughts and feelings in whole school/ class assemblies as well as circle times helps them feel valued and creatures a positive culture within school.

Mutual Respect:

We might not always agree with other people but we try to show respect for their thoughts and feelings. We can give respect to others and we can expect other people to show respect.

Mutual Respect is at the core of our school life and included in our Positive Learning Policy. The children learn to treat each other and staff with great respect. We have non-negotiable school rules and each class draws up a set of class rules or a class agreement each year and they use this to set the tone for the level of respect that is expected throughout the year. Through e-safety lessons, black history month, international women’s day and anti-bullying week, to name a few, the children are taught to value differences in themselves and others and most importantly to show respect to all. A focus on influential people in Britain throughout history also encourages respect and admiration for others. This is continued through weekly circle times where the children are encouraged to respond to a range of difficult scenarios whilst showing respect for others.

Children are encouraged to work in collaboration as much as possible either in their class, with other year groups and sometimes with other schools in sport or at music and dance festivals. We place a high emphasis on belonging in our school community in everything that we do.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs:

In Britain we accept that other people might have different beliefs than ours and they may believe in different religions. Richard Hill CE Primary School follows the Leicestershire syllabus which ensures that all children learn about the main religions, encompasses Understanding Christianity and teaches respect and understanding for the cultures, beliefs, opinions and traditions of others. We use opportunities such as the Olympics and current news and events from around the world to help the children study and learn about life and cultures in different countries. We have visitors to school to share with the children about their faiths. We visit our own local church regularly but all year groups go to a place of worship each year.