The Department for Education state that there is a 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.”

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these values were reiterated by the Prime Minister in 2014. At Beechwood Primary School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways.

Democracy

Democracy is embedded at the school.  Pupils are always 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.  Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council and regular questionnaires.  The elections of the School Council members and House Captains are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action.

• House system and house points
• Elected Head and Deputy Head boy and girl
• Elected school council representatives
• Class council time to share views
• Class charters for behaviour signed by all
• Exploration of historical origins of our democracy e.g. studies of ancient civilisations in History.
• Children participate in the planning of the creative curriculum. They have a say in what is taught.
• Pupil questionnaires allow children to evaluate their school experience

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced.   Each class discusses and sets its own rules that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.  Our pupils 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.

• Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.
• Class rules devised by children
• School rules promoted and referred to regularly.
• Clear behaviour management system e.g. traffic light warnings
• Strong promotion of sportsmanship and fair play through sporting activities.
• Children encouraged to accept responsibility for their behaviour- given responsibility such as buddy system, lunchtime helpers, prefects
• Work closely with local police and PCSOs- hold assemblies, talks to discuss behaviour in and out of school
• All staff have high standards for presentation and the correct wearing of school uniform. Children are ‘ambassadors’ for the school when in public in uniform.

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 our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education.  Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our e-safety and P.S.H.E. activities.  Whether it is through choice of challenge; of how they record; of participation in our numerous extra- curricular activities; our pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

• Pupils are given freedom to make choices within a safe environment e.g. FS2 independent learning, choice of lunches, choosing to participate in a range of after-school clubs, homework choice grid.
• Freedom for children to practise their own faith is respected e.g. fasting through Ramadan, Christians wearing a cross, Sikh boys wearing religious items.

Mutual Respect:

Respect is one of the core values of our 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.  The core value of Respect at Beechwood Primary School underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom.

• School ethos and core values which are displayed round school e.g. be considerate, be a leader, be responsible.
• SEN inclusive school- children with different additional needs are valued and included in the classroom.
• Adults have high expectations of how children should speak to them and each other e.g. addressing adults as Mr or Mrs and using pupil’s names.
• School policies for recording and dealing with racist incidents are robust.
• Charitable aims promoted through fundraising activities and events.
• Respect for the contribution of others to history and the promotion of British values is taught e.g. Y3/4 Help the Heroes project, The Blitz, Studies of the current and historical Royal Families.
• Remembrance Day is observed in the local community to honour the contribution of veterans to protecting British Values.

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our core value of Respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs.  Beechwood Primary School enhances pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies; P.S.H.E. work; assemblies and visits to other schools in different settings.   Through this our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society.

• Circle times beginning in FS2 to encourage respect for the views of others.
• Exploration of similarity between religions e.g. Christianity and Islam
• Celebration of festivals from other cultures e.g. FS2 Diwali day
• Teaching about world religions in RE e.g. Yr1/2 India topic covering Islam, Hinduism.
• Teaching of Historical events to explore reasons for and responses to intolerance e.g. WW2