British Values and Preparation for Life in Modern Britain

School Inspection from September 2014 explores and judges the contribution schools make to actively promoting British Values and Preparation for Life in Modern Britain.

The DfE have recently reinforced the 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, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with different Faiths and Beliefs."

The Government set out its definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.

At Ladywood Primary School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways. Posters making reference to the British Values are displayed around school and explained to children.

TOLERANCE

This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity.

Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PHSE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

We celebrate Festivals throughout the year from all World Religions. RE can challenge children and young people to be increasingly respectful and to celebrate diversity but tolerance is a starting point. It is much better than intolerance.

MUTUAL RESPECT

Our School Ethos and Behaviour Policy revolves around ‘3 Simple Rules', ‘R = Respectful, R = Ready and S = Safe’. It is reiterated through Rewards and Sanctions via CLASS DOJO. We support events such as Anti-Bullying Week and E-Safety Day.

We provide opportunities for children to learn to respect others through our Curriculum Enrichment Days.

We support a variety of charities throughout the year where they promote respect and tolerance e.g. Children in Need

In RE pupils learn about diversity in religions and worldviews and will be challenged to respect other persons who see the world differently to themselves. They are challenged to be broadminded and openhearted when understanding different faiths and beliefs.

DEMOCRACY

Democracy is promoted within school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Smart Schools Council. The elections of Smart Schools Council and Subject Ambassadors are based solely on pupil votes.

Each teacher has different ways in which pupils make their voices heard in the classroom e.g. though Circle Time, discussions and decisions over classroom rules, questionnaires, voting, etc. Through RE the children can debate the fundamental questions of life to respect a range of perspectives as well as sharing a responsibility to use their own voice and influences for the wellbeing of others.

THE RULE OF LAW

The importance of Laws whether they be those that govern the class, the school or the country are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days and through school assemblies.

The children are taught right from wrong. 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, Road Safety officer, etc are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. There is a clear Code of Conduct ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe' which is on display in all areas of school.

Each family signs the Home School Agreement which includes the Code of Conduct as well as other linking themes. Work in RE on codes for living in different religions as well as codes for living for non-religious people allow pupils to discuss the importance of this value.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY

Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely e.g. PSHE lessons, E-Safety, etc. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in After School Clubs, pupils are given the freedom to make choices. Classes work towards incentives like Dojo Points, Reading Champion and the Learn, Achieve, Thrive Award. At times we also give ownership of learning to the children and promote a personal investigative approach.

Our shared values in the school promote both staff and children as good role models and we take opportunities to challenge stereotypes whenever the opportunity arises. There are also opportunities to explore that with individual liberty and freedom comes responsibilities to the local community and the wider world. In RE pupils will consider questions about identity, belonging and diversity learning what it means to live a life free from constraints.

Religious Education

RE makes a key educational contribution to pupil’s explorations of British Values. Excellent teaching of RE will enable pupils to learn to think for themselves about British Values.

Questions about whether Social and Moral Values are best described as ‘British Values’ or seen as more universal Human Values will continue to be debated but for the purposes of teachers of RE the subject offers opportunities to build an accurate knowledge base of Religions and Beliefs in relation to Values.

This in turn supports children so that they are able to move beyond attitudes of tolerance towards increasing respect so that they can celebrate diversity. Values Education and Moral Development are a part of a school’s holistic mission to contribute to the wellbeing of each child and of all people within our communities.

The RE Curriculum focuses learning in some of these areas but pupils Moral Development is a whole school, issue. Any parent wishing to withdraw their child from RE lessons and/ or assembly should contact the head.

PSHE (Personal, Social and Health,Education) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education)

These two areas of learning also add to a pupil’s explorations of British Values alongside RE. Throughout the year they engage in different areas which engage their own experiences as well as reflecting on other’s experiences as well as expressing their feelings and how to cope with them and understanding other’s feelings and why they feel like that.

Topics Covered Through the JIGSAW Scheme of Learning

* Being me in my world

* Celebrating difference

* Dreams and Goals

* Healthy me

* Relationships

* Changing me