British Values
BV Lead: Miss E Ife
“Promoting the 5 British Values ensures young people understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.”
British Values
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Democracy
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Rule of Law
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Individual Liberty
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Mutual Respect
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Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs
Our 5 British Values Poster which is displayed in every classroom.
The Department for Education has reinforced the need "to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British Values."
The Government sets out its definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated in 2014. We promote these values through our own school values, curriculum and enrichment activities.
INTENT
Fundamental British Values are a set of social attitudes which aid and support the understanding and maintenance of social cohesion and equality. Much of what we do on a daily basis here at Coppice Farm Primary develops British Values as they are embedded through all areas of learning.
Our pupils learn about being part of Britain from different perspectives, across the curriculum and in all aspects of school life. We want:
- To provide and encourage safe and respectful spaces for discussions where asking questions, clarifying understanding and sharing different thoughts, perspectives nd viewpoints is encouraged and valued.
- Our pupils to learn, understand and follow our school rules, recognising the responsibilities involved and the consequences when rules are not adhered to.
- To support all pupils to understand the meaning of key words associated with British Values, so they are able to use them correctly, in context and discuss with confidence.
- Our pupils to understand and value being responsible for their words, actions and demonstrate our school values in all areas of their learning.
- Our pupils to contribute to school life and our wider community through School Council, Sports Leaders, educational visits and meeting visitors to school.
IMPLEMENTATION
Through assemblies and focused sessions, our children learn about British Values in a variety of ways. A range of resources such as Picture News, Newsround, educational trips, visitors to schools, our school values and the embedding of British Values across our curriculum.
Our curriculum approach enables pupils to:
- Become good citizens and demonstrate an appreciation for each other, our school, our local community and the wider world.
- Be respectful and show tolerance. mutual respect and acceptance of all from different faiths, cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds.
- Use an enquiry-based approach to current events and issues through the use of different resources (such as Picture News), to enable pupils to consider, develop and refine their own opinions and to be able to express these both verbal and written formats.
- Experience topic theme days linked to British Values to embed their understanding of the world around them.
- Have opportunities to stand for and vote for our School Council.
- Participate in class and whole school assemblies.
- Have the opportunity to be a Sports Leader.
- Participate in extra-curricular clubs and activities.
- Enjoy school trips, to meet visitors to school, to participate in workshops, fundraising and other community activities.
- Understand and follow our school rules, making positive choices.
- Discuss different issues with increased confidence and socialise with different members of our school community, establishing the skills needed to be a successful participant in British life.
IMPACT
Our pupils will be prepared for life in modern Britain and will promote the British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths, ethnicities, cultures and beliefs.
Our pupils will recognise that they have a voice and will understand their role in society, and will recognise their individual strengths as learners, understanding how to continue to learn successfully and independently as a citizen of modern Britain.
All members of our school will actively promote a cooperative and mutually respectful approach in all relationships, with staff, with pupils, with parents and carers and other stakeholders.
Our pupils will be allowed to experience and have the opportunity to learn how to debate, argue and defend points of view in a safe environment, aiding responses and opportunities, responsibilities and experiences in later life.
Pupils develop positive self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.
Pupils are able to distinguish between right and wrong, and understand what it means to be a respectful member of society.
We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and, in particular, RE, PSHE and assemblies provide opportunities to deepen and develop understanding. We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world. We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British Society and to the world.
At Coppice Farm Primary School, we develop and promote British Values throughout our school and within our curriculum. Here are just a few ways in which we uphold and actively promote British values as part of our every day school life:
Democracy
At Coppice Farm, every child on the school council is voted in by their class in our class votes at the beginning of each year.
- Every member of the school community; children, parents, staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard.
- School Councillors - The election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action. It is made up of 2 representatives from each class. The School Council meets to discuss issues raised by the different classes.
- Children agree to uphold and respect the school rules and are actively encourage to discuss what these mean and the importance of them.
- Children create a class charter at the beginning of the year.
- Children are asked to respond and reflect on their own learning as part of the marking process.
- Pupils are listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard.
Rule of Law
At Coppice Farm, we aim to provide children with an understanding of the importance of the Rule of law that will aid them in both in their life outside of school and in their future adult life.
The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices.
- We have a set of school rules and lunch rules which are upheld across the school.
- Pupils follow a positive behaviour policy and clearly understand the rewards and sanctions. It enables pupils to reflect on their behaviour.
- The importance of laws and rules are consistently reinforced in the classroom as well as through school assemblies.
- Rule of Law is reinforced during Religious Education, when rules for particular faiths are thought about.
- Rule of Law is reinforced during other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules – in a sports lesson, for example.
- There are curriculum links e.g. Crime and Punishment (Y5)
Individual Liberty
At Coppice Farm, we ensure that all children are treated with dignity and respect.
- We promote children’s freedom of choice and their right to hold and express views and beliefs in a respectfully and considered way. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment and empowered education, we have boundaries in place that allow children to make choices safely.
- Through opportunities such as our extra-curricular clubs, Golden Time and Residential Trips, pupils are given the freedom to make safe choices.
- Children’s achievements outside of school are celebrated.
- Our anti-bullying procedures address prejudicial and discriminatory behaviour.
- E-safety lessons enable the children to make choices in a safe manner.
Being part of Britain
At Coppice Farm, we welcome and promote diverse heritage. Alongside this, we value and celebrate being part of Britain. In general terms, this means that we celebrate traditions and customs throughout the year such as the Nativity at Christmas.
Also, children learn about being part of Britain from different specific perspectives.
Two specific examples of when we teach about being part of Britain are: Geographically and Historically.
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For a more detailed list of how we promote British Values at Coppice Farm, click here - British Values at Coppice Farm - what do we do?
Mutual Respect & Tolerance
Respect is one of the core values of our school. This can be seen and felt in our pervading ethos in school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.
- Pupils are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.
- Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.
- Respect and teamwork are promoted through residential trips, mixed age activities and sports day.
- Assemblies and class work promotes the diversity of society and the right for each person to be respected and valued equally regardless of ability, gender, faith, heritage or race.
- The curriculum enables the children to study other countries which allows them to compare and contrast cultures whilst respecting other faiths and beliefs
- Through the PSHE and RE curriculums pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations.
- We follow the Nottinghamshire Agreed syllabus for RE and use the 1 decision materials to enhance PSHE teaching.
