British Values
Schools have a statutory duty to promote British Values and to ensure they are taught.
The government set out its definition of British Values as:
Democracy
The Rule of Law
Individual Liberty
Mutual Respect
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Actively promoting the values means everyone challenging opinions or behaviours in school that are contrary to fundamental British values.
Riddings Junior School is committed to serving and being at the heart of our community. We recognise our community and how it differs from the increasingly multi-cultural, multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom. It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
We follow equal opportunities guidance ensuring that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of, for example, faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status.
At Riddings Junior School, we develop and promote British Values throughout our school and within our curriculum. Our school ethos of PRIDE (Progress, Respect, Independence, Determination and Excellence) underpins our shared values which reflect those of British Values of Democracy, the Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, and Mutual Respect and Tolerance. British values are embedded within our PRIDE ethos.
We want to give our children every opportunity to become fully rounded members of our school community and their wider society. Children who leave our school will be fully prepared for the next stage of their learning journey and life in modern Britain.
To do this our children will gain;
- An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
- An understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and other beliefs is protected in law
- An acceptance that people being different should be accepted, tolerated and celebrated and that this should not be a reason of discriminatory behaviour
- An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination
Our school is committed to providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment. We value and promote shared personal achievement, high standards and respect for the individual. We believe that by working together we build understanding of one another and develop the self-esteem of every individual through understanding our rights and responsibilities.
At Riddings Junior School we value and celebrate the diverse heritages of everybody. Alongside this, we value and celebrate being part of Great Britain. In general terms, this means that we recognise and celebrate traditions and customs in the course of the year; for example, Christmas and Easter. We recognise national foci including Macmillan Coffee Morning, Holocaust Memorial Day, Chinese New Year, Eid and Safer Internet Day, with other opportunities throughout the year to coincide with the wider community and world e.g. Children in Need and World Book Day - our book focus for WBD has a different theme with this year’s being Diversity.
Examples of British Values being woven through our school:
| Democracy |
Children, parents and staff have many opportunities, formal and informal, for their voices to be heard at Riddings Junior School. Democracy is key to how we operate.
An obvious example is our Schola Consilio (School Council). The election of the Pupili Legate reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: candidates apply and give a speech to their class. The pupils then vote in a secret ballot. The Schola Consilio is made up of a representative from each class and meets to discuss issues raised by the pupil body. The council has a small budget and can effect change within the school. In the past, for example, the Schola Consilio has helped select equipment for our school grounds.
Other examples of ‘pupil voice’ are:
Pupils are listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with interest to each other. Whilst they are taught to respect the right to a different opinion they understand that not all views represent our shared British Values and that some may be illegal. We encourage pupils to take ownership of their own behaviour, learning and progress and that being respectful of yourself is the first step. This encourages personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated daily by our pupils.
Parents’ opinions are welcomed at Riddings Junior through different channels including representation on the Governing Body, questionnaires, conversations at Parents’ Consultations, Inclusion Coffee Mornings and crucially staff being available at the start and end of school. |
| The Rule of Law |
The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that support our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced throughout the school day. At the start of the school year, the school reflects upon what PRIDE means so that the philosophy is understood by all. Without PRIDE we cannot learn or teach effectively, it plays a fundamental role in our approach.
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. These values are reinforced in different ways:
|
| Individual Liberty |
Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment, we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely; for example:
Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our PSHE lessons or when playing outside. Assemblies are used to explore and support the school’s values and to reflect upon challenging situations that occur in the wider world. Within Singing Assemblies, we celebrate individual differences through carefully selected songs, artists and musical styles supported by linked Fluency Reads.
By teaching the children how to manage and understand emotions we hope to equip them to:
Children in Year 5 and 6 especially, have opportunities to take on key roles and responsibilities such as Sports Leaders. Through opportunities such as our extra-curricular and lunch time activities and residential trips, pupils are given the freedom to make safe choices.
Our fabulous grounds and the wide-ranging activities available to the children gives them many opportunities to make decisions, judge risk and to co-operate with others. Children at Riddings are encouraged to make choices knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment where learning from mistakes is the way to progress.
Our Anti-Bullying culture is developed through our focus on PRIDE, our P.S.H.E curriculum including the annual participation in National Anti-Bullying Week. |
| Mutual Respect |
We have high expectations of achievement, behaviour and behaviours for learning. Children and staff are polite and respectful. We believe everyone has their own strengths and we are expected to show them. We listen and respect each other whenever possible but know that when poor choices are made and things go wrong this needs addressing.
We teach the children that conflict will be dealt with fairly and that all members of the school family are valued equally and that we understand our differences. We celebrate each other’s achievements whether that be in or out of school through our weekly PRIDE Assemblies.
Teachers plan engaging, interesting and challenging lessons where everybody is expected to show determination and a desire to progress whilst respecting others.
When our older children are given key roles and responsibilities to work alongside younger children this helps to promote mutual respect across the age phases. |
| Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs |
Riddings Junior is proud to promote and celebrate the different backgrounds and beliefs that might exist within our school. Tolerance, politeness and mutual respect are at the heart of our PRIDE ethos and R.E curriculum.
We want to equip our children with the attitudes, knowledge and skills that will enable them to live and work alongside people regardless of difference. This is necessary in a future where the world has become a smaller place.'
Our pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone and to everything, whatever differences we may have. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on them and others. All members of the school community are encouraged to treat each other with respect.
Specific examples of how we at Riddings Junior enhance pupils’ understanding and respect for different faiths and beliefs are:
|