TEACHING BRITISH VALUES

Promoting British Values at Warren Farm Primary School and Nursery.

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.”

The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2015 Revised Prevent Strategy.  

At Warren Farm these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Each year the children decide upon their class rules; all the children contribute and they are displayed in each classroom along with the sunshine and clouds. 

Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class council meetings. The council has its own budget and is able to genuinely effect change within the school. Two council members for each year group are voted in by their class.

Children have an annual questionnaire with which they are able to put forward their views about the school.

The Rule of Law

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. 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message. Children who are particularly good role models and highlight the ethos of school in their actions receive Buddy Stamps, at the end of each year those children with 30 Buddy Stamps are invited to a special trip to celebrate. In Year 6 –the children  study the rule of the law and visit the Houses of Parliament.

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.  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.

All classes work towards incentives such as ‘Golden Time’ where their choices affect the outcomes for themselves personally as well as the whole class.  Our shared values in the school promote both staff and children as good role models and we take opportunities to challenge stereotypes whenever the opportunity arises. Opportunities are also taken to explore that with individual liberty and freedom come responsibilities to the local community and wider world.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the core of our school life.  As a school we are proud to promote and celebrate our different backgrounds and beliefs. Mutual respect is at the heart of our aims and ethos. Our pupils know and understand that they are expected to show respect to everyone, whatever differences they may have. They are also taught to respect the school environment and the world around them. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on school and society and that they must be equipped with the skills to make the right choices.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Warren Farm is a diverse school. We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Assemblies are regularly planned to celebrate a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE, PSHE and teaching reinforce this. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.

Our school motto; TEAM ‘ Together, Everyone, Achieves, More,’ underpins all of the British Values above.

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