British Values

 Promoting Fundamental British Values at Blakesley CE Primary School

In accordance with The Department for Education, we aim to actively promote British values in our school to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

The Key British Values are:

• democracy
• rule of law
• individual liberty
• mutual respect
• tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

We help children to remember the British Values through the thumb and finger model:

Thumb – Democracy – up or down to give opinion.

Index finger – Rule of Law - pointing 

Middle finger – Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs – tallest finger pointing to God.

Ring Finger – Mutual respect – wedding ring – respect for other people

Little finger – Individual Liberty – sticks out on its own. 

We actively promote British values through

• Focusing on and showing how the school’s work is effective in securing these values.
• Challenging pupils, staff, visitors or parents who express opinions contrary to British values.

Democracy – what do we do?

• Class voting for the election of school councillors at the start of the year;
• Annual school wide campaign and election for our head boy/girl;
• Provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services;
• Teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
• Taught through assemblies and our school curriculum;
• Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school;
• Help pupils to express their views;
• Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged;
• Pupils are given opportunities to vote on a range of opportunities

Rule of law – what do we do?

• Ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair;
• Class rules and celebrate the adhering to these rules;
• Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong;
• Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made;
• Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals;
• Explore within our PHSE lessons laws and what to do if peer pressure is trying to persuade children to break these;
• Promote the Rights Respecting School Articles (on policies, around school, in assemblies etc);
• Annual visit from police to speak to pupils

Individual liberty – what do we do?

• Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem, self-confidence;
• Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights;
• Model freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils and promoting critical analysis of evidence
• Challenge stereotypes;
• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture;
• E-Safety units of work are taught throughout school and parents and staff receive training on these.

Mutual Respect and tolerance of different cultures and religions– what do we do?

• Within our PHSE lessons and through assemblies to explore the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act to promote respect for individual differences and to actively challenge stereotypes;
• Use assemblies to explore critical news events (e.g. terrorist attacks, Black Lives Matter etc);
• Explore positive role models (where possible) through our topics who reflect the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act;
• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour;
• Organise visits to places of worship;
• Our RE scheme ensures that our children have a good understanding of a range of religious beliefs and customs;
• Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.