British Values

The Department for Education states that there is a 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”.

Defining British Values as follows:

Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process

Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England

Support for equality of opportunity for all

Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law

Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs

Our school reflects British values in all that we do.  We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world. We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British Society and to the world.

Together Ellistown Primary School upholds and actively promotes British values in the following ways:

Democracy

Our Pupil Leadership Team (PLT) are elected by their peers each year based on a short presentation of their views in supporting the schools aims. All children are able to put themselves forward to their classmates.

All children are encouraged to debate topics of interest, express their views and make a meaningful contribution to the running of the school on matters that directly involve pupils.

Our Governors seek the views of the PLT and find out about their activities through regular visits with them and Head Teacher updates.

Children also have a voice via the classroom ‘Listen to me’ boxes where they can raise concerns and share ideas.

The children, together, devised the Ellistown Way that encompasses our schools vision and aims.

Pupils also have the opportunity to have their voices heard through pupil questionnaires and weekly class news assemblies, where children find out about and discuss current affairs and events.

Our school behaviour policy involves rewards and sanctions which the pupils have discussed.

The principle of democracy is explored across the curriculum, particularly through History and RE as well as during assemblies.

Pupils are actively involved in the selection processes of new staff.

Rule of Law

Our school follows the Ellistown Way, which is deeply embedded in our work every day.

Each class discusses the Ellistown Way and what this looks like in their classroom, defining its own rules that are clearly understood by all to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe environment.

Expectations of the Ellistown Way are clear, fair and regularly promoted.

Pupils are helped to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the law.

Pupils are helped to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.

Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service; Ambulance etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

Our behaviour policy encourages the restorative justice process to resolve conflict.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged, and given the freedom to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. E.g. by signing up for extra-curricular clubs, choosing the level of challenge in some lessons and becoming increasingly more involved in child-led learning.

As a school we educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment, a planned curriculum and an empowering education.

Pupils are supported to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety teaching and PSHE lessons.

Freedom of speech is modelled through encouraging pupil participation.

Vulnerable pupils are protected and stereotypes challenged.

A strong anti-bullying culture is embedded in the school.

Pupils have key roles and responsibilities in school e.g. Play Coaches, Library Monitors, Assembly Monitors etc.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Respect is one of the core values of our school. This can be seen and felt in our pervading ethos in school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.

All of the above is embedded throughout the school and strongly promoted at break and lunchtime.

The school strongly promotes respect for individual differences.

Pupils are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.

Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

Actively promoting our values also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental values, including ‘extremist’ views.

Links and visits are promoted with local faith communities and places of worship. E.g. Members of different faiths or religions are invited to school to share their knowledge and enhance learning within assemblies and in class.

Through the PSHE and RE curriculums pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as looked after children or young carers.

Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudiced-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE.

We follow the Leicestershire Agreed syllabus for RE and use the SEAL materials to enhance PSHE teaching.

We are delighted with our links to other schools across the world through our class blogs.

We offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected and global dimension work embedded in many of our Curriculum Themes. E.g. A Traveller’s Guide; Walk on the Wild Side; 80 Days Around the World