British Values

British Values At Monkhouse Primary School

In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in our school to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.

We uphold and teach pupils about the British Values which are defined as:

• Democracy

• Rule of law

• Individual liberty

• Mutual respect

• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

These values are taught explicitly through our Life Skills curriculum (PSHE), Spiritual, Moral, Social & Cultural Education (SMSC) and Religious Education (RE). We also teach British Values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.

Our school takes opportunities to endorse British Values through daily assemblies/collective acts of worship and whole school systems and structures such as electing and running a successful School Council. We also actively promote British Values through ensuring that our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values. Actively promoting British Values also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.

At Monkhouse Primary School, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways: 

Democracy:

Democracy is an important value at our school. We engage our pupils in democracy in the following ways;

• Pupil Leader Elections
• Eco Warrior Elections
• Pupil Voice
• Pupil Questionnaires
• Writing balanced arguments in English lessons
• Taking part in debates in various lessons.

Finally,  the children have worked together and agreed a code which we at Monkhouse Primary School actively work and live by; The code of conduct is available in each classroom and actively used by children and adults influencing what is an agreed acceptable behaviour.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Children learn about ‘The Rule of Law’ in the following ways;

• Our system for behaviour management is aligned to an agreed set of codes (see above) and if children are given verbal warnings this is always set against the agreed school behaviour code.
• Children are asked to reflect on their behaviour. The use of think cards seperates the act from the actor, giving them opportunities to repair and consider what would have been a better choice to make. 
• House Points reward children for always following the code of conduct and living their life by the chosen set of rules.
• 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 authorities such as the police, fire service, lifeguards etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
• Participation in sports tournaments
• Classroom rules

Individual Liberty:

Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices at our school, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our children to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and planned curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely. We teach ‘Individual Liberty’ through;

• E-Safety teaching and Life Skills (PSHE) lessons.
• Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. signing up for extra-curricular clubs

Mutual Respect:

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy are based around core values such as ‘respect’ and ‘responsibility’ and these values determine how we live as a community at Monkhouse Primary School. Assemblies are based on ‘ School/British values and Values for Life’ and are central to how we expect everyone to go about their life at our school. Children and adults alike, including visitors, are challenged if they are disrespectful in any way. Values are highly visible around the school and can be seen in posters, certificates and as part of our agreed codes.

Our school ethos and behaviour policy are based around core values such as being ambitious, courageous, reflective and kind  so that they fulfil their unique potential and become active members of the wider global community.

Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
This is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity in our local community which is by large is white British. We teach our children about ‘Tolerance and Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs’ through;

• Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying.
• Our Religious World Views and Life Skills curriculum
• We use opportunities such as the Olympics and World Cup to study and learn about life and culture in countries such as Brazil and Tokyo.
• Themed lunches
• Harvest gifs to local care homes and residents.
• Linking Networks – children corresponding with children with a different ethnic composition.

Links

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/guidance-on-promoting-british-values-in-schools-published

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance/revised-prevent-duty-guidance-for-england-and-wales