Promoting British Values

“Education must ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background.”
Lord Nash DfE 2014.

The Government has stated that all UK schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught.  The definition of British values was first set out by the Government in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and then reviewed in 2014 by the DfE.

This ensures young people understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

The five British Values as set out by the DfE are:

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

These values are embedded and reinforced regularly within our school through our teaching of the National Curriculum and many further ways, as detailed below, that both represent and celebrate our multi-cultural school and local community.

 

Democracy

All Saints’ is proud to hold a Gold UNICEF Rights Respecting School status where principles of democracy are at the forefront of learning and at the heart of our school values.

 

 

Children have many opportunities for their voice to be heard. Our school Ambassadors meet regularly to discuss issues raised in class and around the school. Class elections, based on our electoral system, decide the Ambassadors appointed and the children are given genuine opportunities to make a difference within the school and our local community. Similar democratic processes are also used within the school for making important decisions such as elections held for House Captains, Eco-Warriors and Faith Group members with speeches being made, pupils considering the merits of each representative and secret voting systems

Children are given opportunities through pupil surveys to put forward their views about the school. In class, all children are actively involved in drawing up Class Charters, with some classes including the rights respecting actions as a guide on how to respect these rules.

Significantly, our behaviour policy at All Saints’ reflects our values of every child having the right to be heard, whilst also being based upon Christian values of forgiveness, with the underlying foundations of mutual respect.     

 

The Rule of Law

Students are taught the values and the reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when rules are broken. This is reinforced daily through directed lessons such as RE where rules of different faiths are considered, collective worship and our systems of dealing with behaviour incidents. In our school, we believe in the importance of teaching the rule of law alongside the values of Compassion and Forgiveness. Visits from key services such as the Fire Service and the Police help to strengthen and support this. Class Charters, established by all members of the class, set expectations that are understood by all, ensuring a safe, respectful and productive environment.

 

Individual Liberty

Our safe, respectful and supportive school environment enables and nurtures our children to be able to express their thoughts and beliefs. The creative ways in which children are encouraged to present their work empowers them to make independent choices that are echoed across the curriculum and beyond, for example, when choosing from the extra-curricular activities on offer.  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.    

 

Mutual Respect

Respect is core to our school values and permeates through everything we do. All members of the school community are taught to treat each other with respect and understand that differences are opportunities for learning. Children are taught to respect one another and themselves through our clear set of school values as channelled through our Rights Respecting Articles. We hold regular collective worship so children are able to understand and celebrate rights, British Values and Christian Values through drama and real-life stories. At All Saints’, pupil voice is valued, expressed and supported. As well as developing positive, respectful relationships within our Christian Parish, we also take part in and learn about festivals and celebrations that are important to other faiths.

Click here to see our Anti-Racism Charter, created by the children of All Saints’ School.

 

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Our All Saints’ community is wonderfully culturally diverse. Pupils are equipped with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and given opportunities to experience and celebrate such diversity such as through our ‘Celebrating Our Community Week’, visits to places of worship that are important to other faiths. Additionally, students are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school and celebrate festivities throughout the calendar year.  RE lessons provide broad and balanced learning on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. 

At All Saints’ we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.