What are British Values?

The DfE have reinforced the need for schools to explain how they promote British values. So what are ‘British’ values? There are certain values that have been attributed to being British, by the government and some institutions, and these fall into the following broad areas:

• Democracy
• The Rule of Law
• Individual Liberty
• Tolerance & Respect.

How do we promote ‘British Values’?

We seek to promote British values in our policies and practice. We clearly reflect British values in our activities and the way we manage learning and behaviour.

Democracy

We actively seek children’s views in the following ways:

• Developing a School Council.
• Giving children a voice.
• Involving children in deciding on and organising whole school events.
• Annual questionnaires seeking children’s views.
• Design of the curriculum through children expressing an interest as to what is taught.
• Whole School ethos and through our interactions with children and the school’s behaviour system.
• We also discuss topical issues in assemblies and class PHSE/SEAL work.

The Rule of Law

The importance of having rules is stressed every day so that our school is a calm and safe place to be.  Pupils are taught the values and reasons behind rules; that they govern and keep us safe, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when rules are broken.

The ways that we do this in school:

• Consistent behaviour system
• Playground rules
• Celebration assembly
• Meetings with parents
• Use of literary materials e.g. stories to help pupils distinguish between right and wrong in their everyday interactions.
• We work with the local community and encourage visits from the fire brigade, Police etc.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.

We actively:

• Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence e.g. through all areas of teaching and learning in school.
• Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights e.g. through all of their interaction with adults and each other.
• Challenge stereotypes e.g. through SMSC/PHSE work and assemblies.
• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture (as outlined in our policies for Anti-Bullying and Behaviour)

Respect and Tolerance

At Bishop Lonsdale CE Academy we promote understanding, tolerance and interdependence. We promote respect for individual differences in all areas of learning and interaction.

We:

• Organise visits to places of worship e.g. visits to the local churches and other diverse places of worship as appropriate to the curriculum.
• Develop critical personal thinking skills throughout our curriculum work.
• Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life e.g. through our Religious Education work and SMSC/PHSE.
• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour e.g. through discussion and use of illustrative materials as well as our approach to behaviour in school.
• Discuss differences between people, such as faith, gender or sexuality, ethnicity, disability, and differences of family situations, such as looked-after children or young carers e.g. through our SMSC/PHSE and broader curriculum work and through visitors to school sharing their experiences