The DfE have recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to 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.”
At Isleham CE Primary School these values are reinforced regularly and taught explicitly through Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Emotional Education (PSHCE) as well as through Religious Education (RE). We also teach the British values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.
The school takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through our daily assemblies, our whole school systems and structures such as the annual election of House Captains and also running a successful School Council. We also actively promote British Values through ensuring that our curriculum planning and annual calendar of extra –curricular events include real opportunities for exploring these values, for example our annual poppy wreath laying by House Captains at the village Remembrance Day service.
Democracy
Democracy is an important value at our school. Pupils have many opportunities for their voices to be heard including through our school council. Elections of council members and of Year 6 House Captains are based on individual pupil votes. Voting takes place following the presentation of manifesto speeches by nominated candidates. The School Council has its own budget and is able to genuinely effect change within the school.
Children are also able to recommend each other for weekly Head Teacher Awards as well as Frank Cochran cup – given termly to an individual who has consistently displayed ‘ good citizenship’. In addition, children have an annual questionnaire through which they are able to put forward their views about the school.
The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws, whether those that govern the class, the school or the country are consistently reinforced through everyday school life, the children’s role in our restorative approach to promoting good behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils are taught the values and the reasons behind our rules, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from our local community police officer are a regular part of ur calendar and help to reinforce this message.
Our ‘Traffic Light System’ for promoting and recognising good behaviour is aligned to an agreed school behaviour code – the Golden Rules. These are displayed in each classroom as well as any additional class rules discussed the children and adults as an agreed acceptable way to behave.
Individual Liberty
Within school, our children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Through the provision of a safe environment and empowering curriculum, all our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and responsibilities. They are advised and guided in how to make safe choices, for example through our e-safety teaching, PSHCE lessons and SEAL assemblies. Through the choice of participation in a wide range of extra- curricular clubs as well as through every day learning challenges, our pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect
Our school ethos and behaviour policy are based on the core Christian values of ‘respect’ and ‘responsibility’. These values determine how we live and work as a school community at Isleham Primary. Whole school assembly themes are strongly based on Christian values and children and adults alike, including visitors, are challenged if they are disrespectful in any way. As a result, all members of the school community treat each other with respect.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Isleham is a small rural primary school situated in an area of limited cultural diversity. We are aware of the need to promote pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society. Assemblies, RE and PSHCE lessons provide regular opportunities to discuss and address predjudice and predjudice- based bullying. The inclusion across the curriculum of stories, visitors, events and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures, support the development of learning, understanding and tolerance within classes and across the school.
At Isleham CE Primary School we actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.