British Values
A key part of our plan for education is to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.
BRITISH VALUES
Democracy
Children are given many opportunities for their voices to be heard. Ideas are discussed within classes across the school and children are also selected/elected from each class to have regular meetings to discuss the strengths of the school and areas for improvement. These groups include our School Council, PALS, The Thomson Team and our Eco Club. The children at Bottesford Junior School have a genuine effect on change within school, such as the development of the school meal system/choices, the markings on the school playgrounds and the running of events in school. The children also use electronic surveys to find out thoughts and opinions of classmates and suggest improvements.
The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are reinforced through Assemblies and across the curriculum. 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. Visits from the local Police and Fire Service are planned to help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty
As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young children to actively be encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Through learning about E-safety; in PSHE and RE lessons; during maths problem solving or practical science and also extra-curricular activities (such as drama, cookery or sport), children are given the freedom to make choices safely.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Our school is predominantly white British and therefore we make every effort to ensure that our children experience and understand cultural diversity. Assemblies are regularly planned to promote diversity either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE lessons reinforce this.
At our school, we actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.
To do this our children will develop;
- An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
- An understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
- An acceptance that people having different faiths and beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of discriminatory behaviour
- An understanding of the importance or identifying and combating discrimination
The table below is an indication of where we can find evidence to show that British Values are an intrinsic part of school life at Bottesford Junior School.
Value | Evidence |
Democracy |
Children, parents and staff have many opportunities to ensure that their voices to be heard at our school. Democracy is central to how we operate.
Another example of ‘pupil voice’ is: •children are asked to respond to school surveys as well as make suggestions for the School Council to consider.
Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.
Parents’ opinions are welcomed at our school through methods such as questionnaires, surveys at celebration evenings and opportunities to comment on whole school matters e.g. school meals. |
The Rule of Law |
The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices. At the start of the school year, each class discusses the school rules and class routines, principles that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment, these rules are displayed in each class. These rules play a fundamental role in our behaviour sanctions and rewards.
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. These values are reinforced in different ways:
During other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules |
Individual Liberty |
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Mutual respect |
We have high expectations of achievement and behaviour. Children and staff are polite and kind. We believe everyone has their own special gifts and we are expected to use them. We listen and respect each other. We teach the children that conflict will be dealt with calmly and fairly. All members of the school family are valued equally. We celebrate lunch time behaviour and taking care of our school environment through our Eco Club, School Council and Thomson Team. We celebrate each other’s achievements whether that be in or out of school through our weekly Friday Celebration Assemblies. Teachers plan exciting, interesting, challenging and innovative lessons where everybody is expected to do their best and respect others. When our older children are given key roles and responsibilities to work alongside younger children this helps to promote mutual respect across the age phases. E.g. Sports Ambassadors and PALS. |
Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs |
At Bottesford Junior School we are proud to promote and celebrate our different backgrounds and beliefs. Tolerance, politeness and mutual respect are at the heart of our aims, ethos and R.E curriculum.
Our central aim to 'Prepare children for the future' drives us towards ensuring that our pupils are able to live and work alongside people from all backgrounds and cultures. This will be particularly necessary in a future where due to technological advances will make the 'world a smaller place.' Our pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone and to everything, whatever differences we may have. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community are encouraged to treat each other with respect.
Specific examples of how we enhance pupils’ understanding and respect for different faiths and beliefs are:
•Through Religious Education, PSHE and other lessons where we develop awareness and appreciation of other cultures – in English through fiction and in art and music by considering cultures from other parts of the world.
•Celebrating cultural differences through assemblies, themed weeks and displays.
Children are encouraged to share their own experiences when celebrating their own faith. Daily worship reflects and teaches the children tolerance for different faiths and beliefs. Activities within school support both children and adults of different or no faith, the children are taught respect and tolerance of these groups and the opinions of the groups are taken into account with all activities. Whilst instances contrary to our values are relatively rare, each is treated seriously in line with our policies and expectations.
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