British Values

Promoting Fundamental British Values.

In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in school to ensure young people leave us prepared for life in modern Britain.
Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

The Key Values are:

• Democracy
• Rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

We help children to remember the British Values through the thumb and finger model:

Thumb – Democracy – up or down to give opinion.

Index finger – Rule of Law – pointing

Middle finger – Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs – tallest finger pointing to God.

Ring Finger – Mutual respect – wedding ring – respect for other people

Little finger – Individual Liberty – sticks out on its own.

British Values at Cleves Cross

Democracy – what do we do?

• Class voting for the election of school councillors at the start of the year;
• Annual school wide campaign and election for our team captains;
• Provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services;
• Teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
• Taught through assemblies and our school curriculum;
• Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school;
• Help pupils to express their views through different pupil led steering groups;
• Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged;
• Pupils votes during events such as the talent show;
• Our Community Ambassadors work with the local town councillors.

Rule of law – what do we do?

• Ensure school expectations are clear and fair;
• Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong;
• Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made;
• Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals;
• Explore within our Personal Development Lessons laws and what to do if peer pressure is trying to persuade children to break these;
• Promote the Rights Respecting School Articles (on policies, around school, in assemblies etc);
• Regular visits from our local police men and women.

Individual liberty – what do we do?

• Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem, self-confidence;
• Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights;
• Model freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils and promoting critical analysis of evidence;
• Challenge stereotypes;
• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture;
• Learn about the protected characteristics to reduce discrimination:
• Build a future of inclusion and social justice through Educate and Celebrate work;
• E-Safety units of work are taught throughout school and shared with parents.

Mutual Respect and tolerance of different cultures and religions– what do we do?

• As a Rights Respecting School, mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that 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 – We also seek to embed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) into our curriculum as widely as possible to help our children learn about the diverse world in which we live.
• Our Personal Development lessons and through assemblies to explore the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act to promote respect for individual differences and to actively challenge stereotypes;
• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour;
• Organise visits to places of worship (one annually per year group);
• Years groups perform a celebration assembly for Diwali, Eid and Christmas;
• Our RE scheme ensures that our children have a good understanding of a range of religious beliefs and customs;
• Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life;
• Use of oracy hand gesture to disagree in a respectful way with the answers of others whilst in class.

For more information on our UNICEF Rights Respecting work click on the following link: https://www.clevescrossprimary.org.uk/rights-respecting-school/