Promoting British Values at Holwell Primary School
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 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated by the Prime Minister in 2014. At Holwell these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
Democracy is active within the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Pupil Council and Pupil questionnaires. The elections for the School Council are based solely on pupil votes. Pupil’s views are sought on a range of issues in order to affect change e.g. school lunches,rewards and sanctions or the purchase of new equipment. Our school behaviour policy involves rewards and sanctions and is shared amongst all members of the school community.
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. The ethos of the school is reflected in the school behaviour policy which is regularly reviewed by the school community. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
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 safety, through of provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect
Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy revolves around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Our RICRAC characters promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our learning and classroom expectations as well as our behaviour policy. The school takes part in National and Local events such as Anti-Bullying Week, during which the children are taught to value differences in others and themselves and to respect others. Within the Local Sporting Partnership and through National sporting events, the children experience competition and have an opportunity to apply their sportsmanship skills with other schools and clubs.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
At Holwell, we are a culturally rich and diverse school where children have unique opportunities to learn from each other from sharing and celebrating their different faiths and cultures. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and different forms of bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. As a school, we also sponsor two third world children, for which the children fund raise money for, thereby ensuring they have an appreciation of how children live in different parts of the world.
Participating in national charity events is also an important part of school life, taking part in events such as Children in Need Day, Christmas Jumper Day for Save the Children, Red Nose Day, Sport Relief and selling poppies in school for Remembrance Day.