British Values

The Department for Education have stated that schools should 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.

St Peter’s Church of England Primary School recognises the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom and understands the role it has in ensuring that it upholds and promotes these values.

British Values are promoted as an intrinsic part of our school culture and curriculum. The list below outlines some examples of when and where such British Values are shared:

Democracy

Children are involved in democratic processes e.g. school council writing manifestoes, voting on polling day; election of house captains making decisions at a class and whole school level
Our Behaviour policy reinforces the importance of social responsibility and fairness
Each year the children decide upon their class charter and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the charter.
Children have an annual questionnaire with which they are able to put forward their views about the school

The Rule of Law

Children are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.
Children are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern.
Children have opportunities to reflect on their learning, behaviour and safety.
Visits from the Police, Fire Service etc to help to reinforce these messages.

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 provision of a safe environment and empowering education.
Children 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.
Children are encouraged to take on responsibilities and be responsible.
Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect

Our school ethos promotes the importance of mutual respect and tolerance.
Collective Worship, class and whole school expectations reinforce respect.
Our PE lessons reinforce the importance of fair play. We celebrate and reward success, promote the importance of being magnanimous in defeat and participate in activities that promote teamwork and collaboration.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

We aim to teach children to have an understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity.
We plan visits from the school and visitors to the school so that we are able to broaden the children’s cultural experience e.g. visits to the local mosque; a visit from a local person to share Indian food with a class.
Our RE curriculum ensures that children have a balanced understanding of different faiths and beliefs – focussing on both learning about and learning from religion.
Some of our curriculum topics celebrate different cultures, faiths and beliefs e.g. China.