Promoting British Values

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 and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

At Bemerton St John C of E Primary School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

• Democracy:

Democracy is rife within the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Pupil Council, Church Council, Eco Representatives, E-Safety Group and Pupil questionnaires. The elections of House Captains, Church Council and School Council members, each year are based solely on pupil votes. Our school behaviour policy involves rewards and children earn points for their House.

• 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, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. 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 and Fire Brigade are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

• Individual Liberty: 

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young 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, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

• Mutual Respect:

 Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and Collective Worship related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy.

• Tolerance of those of different Faiths and Beliefs:

 This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Collective Worship and assemblies have discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying and these have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. We are an international school and regularly speak to the children about other cultures and countries. We have links with other schools in France, India and South Africa. All our student learn about all Faiths and cultures from around the World in RE lessons. Children in KS1 study Judaism, while children in KS2 study Islam and Hinduism. Global citizenship is one of our 3 curriculum drivers which are on the curriculum plans for each class. We are an expert Centre for Global Learning Programme.

Please click here to see a copy of our Values Leaflet.