British Values
As well as promoting good social and moral values within school, we also promote the following fundamental British values: Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual liberty, Mutual respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
At Aiskew, Leeming Bar CE Primary School, we reinforce these values regularly. We follow the Linking Networks scheme of work to ensure that these values are given the time and credence required. These lessons are taught across school to support children to develop age appropriate, meaningful understanding of the themes of democracy, individual liberty, rule of law and mutual respect.
Democracy
Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard in school. We encourage children to make decisions that affect the school through a democratic process. Recent votes have included: the wording of our new Golden Rules which the whole school worked together to write and the renaming of our classes. To narrow down the choice of class names, we held a series of votes until our current names were chosen. Pupil voice is very important and shapes the school. A recent example in KS2 would be some pupils didn’t think that an aspect of missing Golden Time was fair therefore through negotiations, the class came to a consensus about how much time should be lost for pupils not completing their reading homework. We also encourage children to nominate their peers for a ‘Golden Ticket’ or for our ‘School Value’ award.
Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those in class, the school or the country are reinforced in school regularly through the SMSC whole school curriculum overview and whole school assembly. Pupils worked together to produce our ‘Golden Rules’. Children in KS2 also devised non-negotiable amounts of ‘missing Golden Time’ for certain inappropriate behaviour. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind school rules and national laws that protect us, look after us and govern us. We discuss with the children and make clear the consequences when rules in school and laws of the land are broken. We arrange visitors to speak with the children such as the Police to discuss Road safety, Bikeability, Fire safety, Stranger Danger and the NSPCC. Through our PSHE scheme, 1 Decision, we teach children about rules regarding road safety and encourage children to ensure that their parents/carers adhere to these when travelling in a car e.g. use of a booster seat, using a mobile phone whilst driving.
Individual Liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make personal choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through E-safety Children have the freedom of choice in respect of Golden Time activities that they choose. It is also made clear to children that everyone starts each week with 100% of Golden Time and it is how the child chooses to conduct his/herself throughout the week that determines how much they receive in Friday’s Golden Time.
Mutual Respect
Part of our school ethos and positive behaviour policy has revolved around our values; we believe that ensuring these values are promoted and practised, the school will ensure mutual respect is created. Our values are reflected in our school rules, displays, newsletters and website and in the curriculum where opportunities arise. Our Behaviour Golden Rules are based around respect for one another. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday collective worship is based around the school’s eight values.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
This is achieved through enhancing children's understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity through encouraging our pupils who are from ethnic minority groups to talk to the class/school about life in their birth country or traditions that they continue to practise in the UK. The understanding of different faiths and beliefs is covered through our RE units of work. Members of different faiths are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within our school.
We participate in great British events such as the Royal Jubilee, royal weddings, political elections, and Remembrance events. On a more general level, the school undertakes collect worship which uphold traditional values of empathy, respect and tolerance. These are also taught within formal SMSC and RE lessons and on an informal nature throughout the school days.
