British Values

Promoting Fundamental British Values at Carr Green

Principles

All schools have a duty to ‘actively 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. These values were first set out by the government in the ‘Prevent’ strategy of 2011.

Until now, schools have been required to ‘respect’ these values, but as a result of changes brought in earlier in the year, all schools must now have a clear strategy for embedding these values and show how their work with pupils has been effective in doing so.

Ofsted and the independent inspectorates now take the work of schools in this area into account during inspections.

A key part of the plan for education is to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background. This ensures young people understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

Key principles of the strategy include:-

· Helping children have an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process.

· Ensuring that pupils understand that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law.

· All pupils having an acceptance that people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

· Embedding an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.

How do we promote Fundamental British Values at Carr Green?

Fundamental British Values are promoted through a structured programme of assemblies, SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Education), circle time, topic work, behaviour strategies, School Council & other contextual lessons. Actively promoting the values means that we challenge opinions or behaviours in school that are contrary to these values.

We ensure all pupils in our school have a voice that is listened to, and we demonstrate how democracy works by actively promoting democratic processes such as house captain or school council elections, whose members are voted for by the pupils. Through assemblies, SMSC and circle time discussions, how democracy and the law works in Britain, is discussed.

Our school’s value systems aim for students to:-

· Develop their self-esteem and self-confidence (circle time, SMSC lessons).

· Enable them to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England (assemblies, SMSC and circle time).

· Encourage them to accept responsibility for their behaviour, follow a restorative process and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of others (behaviour practices).

· Enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England (assemblies and lessons).

· Further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures (assembly, RE, SMSC).

· Encourage respect for other people (school rules, behaviour practices, circle time).

· Encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes (class and school council).

· An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process (assemblies, circle time and school council).

· An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety (assemblies and circle time).

· An acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated (assemblies, circle time, SMSC).

Measuring Impact

Parent questionnaire outcomes, pupil conferences (Head teacher’s Afternoon Tea) and visitor responses indicate clearly that our pupils have a balanced and tolerant view of the world, behave with compassion, show patience & respect for each other, adults in our school and for the rule of law and of democracy. Staff are trained to recognise and challenge behaviours that are contrary to Fundamental British Values. Assemblies, circle time, SMSC and the curriculum are designed to ensure a wide range of British Values are taught, modelled and encouraged.

This statement will be updated in light of any changes in school or Central-Government Policy.