TEACHING BRITISH VALUES

Promoting British Values at Stickney and New Leake Primary Schools Federation

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 have been reiterated this year (2014). In our schools these values are reinforced regularly and

in the following ways:

Democracy

Each year the children decide upon their class charter and discuss the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the charter. Both schools also have a whole school charter of rights and responsibilities.

We have a school council in both schools which meets at least every half term with the Headteacher at New Leake and a senior teacher at Stickney to discuss issues raised in class council meetings. The council has its own budget and is genuinely able to effect change within the school. Every child on the school council is voted in by their class.

Pupil interviews are conducted by staff and governors at least annually to ascertain the children’s views and also children will have an annual questionnaire at both schools where they will able to put forward their views about the school.

At both schools, children are encouraged to take on roles and responsibilities. New Leake have a Head Boy and a Head Girl, who are Year 6 pupils who have applied for the role and demonstrated they have earned the responsibility through keeping the school rules and contributing to school life in previous years.

Stickney have Year 6 prefects who have earned their 5 stars in year 5 for similar reasons and wear black jumpers so they are recognised in school.

Both schools have buddies, playground leaders, sports ambassadors and JRSOs (Junior Road Safety Officers). Stickney and New Leake have E Cadets who lead lessons on e safety. At Both schools the School Council have led assemblies and PSHE lessons including lessons on anti-bullying. At both schools we believe in the importance of Pupil Voice and in pupils being involved in decision making and in leading and shaping the schools’ plans and ethos.

New Leake have made visits to the Houses of Parliament and are due to receive a parliamentary award (2019)

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are

consistently reinforced at Stickney and New Leake.

Pupils are taught from an early age the rules of the school. These are our Golden Rules at New Leake and our School Rules at Stickney. Both schools also have Playground Rules and e safety codes. Safety Rules have been drawn up by the School Councils and introduced in both schools.

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and 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.

Both schools are part of the Mini Police school and have introduced “Mini Police”

Individual Liberty

At Stickney and New Leake Primary Schools, 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 informed choices, through a safe environment and an 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 and assemblies. E Cadets lead e safety lessons.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on

their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with

respect and this is one of the school rules at both schools.

Stickney Church of England Primary School has recently reviewed their church school values with pupils, parents and other stakeholders who have developed new posters about our values and mission statement which are displayed in school. These values are  respect, honesty, kindness, trust, forgiveness and fairness. At Stickney our mission statement is to learn, enjoy, achieve in a caring Christian community developing full potential and mutual respect for all.

The mission statement of New Leake Primary School is to provide a quality education for the whole child in a happy, caring, and well-ordered learning environment; where pupils are valued as individuals and where we are all challenged to maximize our potential. At New Leake our Golden Values  include respect for others and their property, honesty, gentleness, trust, kindness and helpfulness and are currently being reviewed by the School Council.

At both schools our values are linked to our school rules and our classroom rules or class charters and we explore each of these values in assemblies over a period of time as part of our assembly theme. We also recognise and celebrate our pupils upholding these values every Friday in assembly when we award certificates to those children who have shone out in some way linked to the value we are focussing at the time.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

At both schools  we actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education lessons and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance

and respect for others.  We also have a multicultural week at both schools and invite visitors form different faiths and backgrounds such as the Hindu and Indian experiences and use the creative arts to promote cultural awareness. We also use our Wow days and a celebration theme as part of our curriculum at both schools to promote cultural development.