British Values

The government places a responsibility on all schools to promote the ‘fundamental British values’ of:

Democracy 

The Rule of Law

Individual Liberty

Mutual Respect

Tolerance

Our strong whole school ethos is underpinned by our mission statement, ‘For everyone to DREAM BIG and for our children to leave our school with an ambition to be somebody’ as well as our school values, our Golden Rules and the cooperative values are embedded in all we do.

 

We promote these values in the following ways:

Democracy:

We encourage children to express their opinions about differing issues, offering them opportunities across the curriculum.

Each class holds annual elections to elect a school council that represents the children’s views and also has the opportunity to meet with other school councils across the Trust.

We encourage pupils to have a voice through our Votes for Schools assemblies and our PSHE curriculum.

We teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process.

We encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school. We do this by elections for school council, Health and Safety officers, Sports Leaders, Playground Buddies and RotaKids to represent pupil voice.

We provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services.

We hold ‘mock elections’ so pupils learn how to argue and defend points of view.

We help pupils to express their views.

We model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged.

 

The Rule of Law:

Our school rules are created with the children.

Through teaching in the curriculum, social interaction and assemblies children are taught right from wrong. 

We ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair. 

We help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made.

We help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.

There are visits from the police and local fire service as part of the curriculum.

We teach pupils aspects of both civil and criminal law and discuss how this might differ from some religious laws.

We develop restorative justice approaches to resolve conflicts.

 

Individual Liberty:

We encourage self-confidence and self-esteem throughout the curriculum and other opportunities e.g. performances and sports.

Pupils have opportunities to represent their school in sporting events, musical events, Trust events.

Culture and beliefs are taught across the curriculum and in assemblies.

Different speakers come into school to develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the world.

We support pupils to develop their self-knowledge.

We encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights.

We model freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils.

We challenge stereotypes.

We implement a strong anti-bullying culture. 

 

Mutual Respect:

We promote respect for individual differences through the curriculum.

Assemblies and our Golden Rule 'Be Respectful' reinforces our ethos and key messages.

Staff and children model mutual respect.

We work with other children and adults in the Trust and promote Cooperative Trust values.

Through team sports, we build sportsmanship both in and out of school.

 

Tolerance:

We teach our values through assemblies and the RE and PSHE curriculum.

We use the RE Walsall Agreed Syllabus that leads pupils to understand and respect a range of religious and non-religious viewpoints and faiths.

We help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.

We celebrate different cultures in the curriculum.

Pupils discuss differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability and we challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

A wide selection of charitable fundraising for organisations is chosen by pupils.