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British Values

All schools are required to promote children’s social, moral, cultural, mental and physical development. As part of our school ethos and through the broader curriculum we aim to develop children’s spiritually, morally, socially, and culturally. We incorporate this into the teaching of fundamental British values.

Schools should 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. This can help schools to demonstrate how they are meeting the requirements of section 78 of the Education Act 2002, in their provision of SMSC.

Actively promoting the values means challenging opinions or behaviours in school that are contrary to fundamental British values. Attempts to promote systems that undermine fundamental British values would be completely at odds with schools’ duty to provide SMSC. The Teachers’ Standards expect teachers to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school. This includes not undermining fundamental British values.

Promoting Fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools (DfE, 2014)

Fundamental British Values

Democracy

Promotion of democratic processes, fostering the concept and application of freedom of speech and group action to address needs and concerns. Key to this is the concept of holding others to account, including those in positions of authority and influence. Making Decisions together.

For pupils

  • Secret Ballots – voting for team names using ballot papers and polling booths
  • Assemblies
  • Debating
  • Persuasive writing
  • Learning about rights and responsibilities in historical societies e.g. Romans, Greeks and Egyptians
  • PSHE
  • Whole school ethos to encourage and support working together
  • Regular group, paired and collaborative work
  • Talk partners

For the wider community

  • Consultations – RSE, PSHE
  • Questionnaires
  • Governor elections
  • Parent Voice

Rule of Law

The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently promoted throughout the day and across the curriculum.

For Pupils

  • Class rules
  • School Values
  • Class monitors
  • Promoting Positive Behaviour Policy
  • Visual timetables
  • Personalised reward charts
  • PSHE curriculum
  • Following rules in PE – respecting the referees decision
  • Health and Safety rules – science, DT
  • Use of restorative justice
  • Assemblies
  • Displays

For the wider community

  • Home School Agreement
  • IT User Agreements – for pupils and staff
  • Abiding by the law i.e. no smoking site
  • DBS checks
  • Conduct Policy

Individual liberty

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their individual rights and responsibilities and advised how to use these safely.

For pupils

  • Pupil voice – input into curriculum planning
  • Pupils making choices within the safe and secure school environment,
  • The arts – discussion and personal expression
  • Class assemblies and whole school assemblies
  • School plays
  • School teams
  • Celebration time,
  • Free choice – dressing up
  • Anti-bullying Week
  • Raising awareness of stereotyping and promoting anti-discrimination
  • Children being given choices –genres, choice of resources and equipment
  • “Rate my Play”
  • Personalised plans
  • Extra-curricular clubs

For the wider community

  • E safety information for parents
  • Sex and Relationship information for parents
  • Choice of charities we support each year

Mutual Respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith

Celebrations of different faiths and cultural beliefs, inviting members of the school community to share their knowledge to enhance learning within the class in school, visits to and from different religious groups. Religious Education: Gaining a greater understanding of religious diversity and practices, which covers key religions represented in the UK. Planning for the subject is directed by the 'Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) - Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education for Torbay and Devon

For pupils

  • Visitors
  • Supporting charities – Children in Need
  • Vicar led assemblies
  • RE, MFL, PSHE curriculum
  • Visits to places of
  • Assemblies
  • Celebrating festivals – Divali, Eid, Hanuka, Christmas, Chinese New Year
  • Multi - cultural Britain – food tasting, dressing up, displays, video clips,
  • Stories from other cultures
  • Celebrating origins of children – Indian, Polish and Hungarian topics

For the wider community

  • E safety information for parents
  • Sharing skills and knowledge of different faiths
  • Remembrance Day
  • Inviting speakers from local community