British Values


Promoting British values at our school

Burton Leonard Church of England (VC) Primary School is committed to serving its community.  We recognise the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom and our curriculum is designed to develop understanding of this world..

British values – democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs – are consistently promoted and interwoven with our Christian values and school ethos and vision.

Democracy

Pupils elect School Council – meets regularly to discuss issues raised in school and is able to genuinely effect change in school. We take part in Speaker School Council Awards, debating in class and debating competitions. We vote for Children’s Choice weekly. Pupils voice for subject leaders and an annual questionnaire with which they are able to put forward their views about the school. Our vision is rooted in the motto ‘Together We Shine’ we even voted on the names of our guinea pigs – Farrah and Bolt! Voting is seen as a fair way to solve situations.

 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. The pupils review our Behaviour Policy and Anti-Bullying Policy on an annual basis and this year Year 6 pupils added ‘It is cool to be kind’ to our policies. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce messages.

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 provision of a safe environment and empowering education.  Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices. We value controlled risk, pupils making their own decisions.

Mutual Respect

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. School Ambassadors made a film about respect in our school for a cluster ambassador project. Children in our school respect difference. They show respect for the views and ideas of others  – Debating team Harrogate Borough Council and Northallerton.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our school is situated in an area which is not greatly culturally diverse, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE, PSHE and RRSA teaching reinforce this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.

Pupil Voice

We have a well-developed school culture where all our children have a voice and have the opportunity to play an active role in decisions that affect their learning and well-being. Pupils conduct learning walks and feed back to the teachers to improve learning for all across school. Pupils are interviewed by our Governors to seek their views to make school even better and curriculum subject leaders ask pupils their views to improve their subjects. We have an elected School Council, Children’s Collective Worship Committee, Librarians and Sports Crew as well as nominated pupils for Growth Mindsets and School Ambassadors. Our School Ambassadors work with other pupils in our local area on our “What does it mean to be British project?” Our School Ambassadors created a film about mutual respect click here to see it

How Christian and British Values are interwoven

In the 2011 Prevent Strategy the government set out its definition of British values and its desire “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.

Here at Burton Leonard Church of England (VC) Primary School we believe that British values are Christian values and vice versa. These values underpin all that we do at school with pupils and are an integral part of our school day.

Christian Values and British values can be summed up in the bible quote “Love one another as I have loved you” John 15 V 12. Living out Christian and British values means that showing love and respect for one another should be a core part of everything we do.

The specific Christian values we as staff, governors, pupils and parents have chosen are: Friendship, Thankfulness, Peace, Trust, Responsibility and Love. They go hand-in-hand with British values and can be linked to biblical quotes and passages:

   
Democracy Trust / Responsibility / Love
Exodus 18 V 21

 

 

 

“Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens”
The Rule of Law Responsibility / Peace / Love
Romans 13 V 1

 

Exodus 20 V 1‐20

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established”.

Moses and the 10 commandments

Individual Liberty Peace / Love
John 8 V 32

 

John 15 V 12

Luke 11 V 9

“and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free”.

“Love one another as I have loved you”

“seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”.

Tolerance and Respect Friendship / Thankfulness / Love
Mark 12 V31

Luke 10 V 29‐37

Matthew 7 V 1

Luke 6 V31

 

The second commandment is this “Love your neighbour as yourself”.

The Good Samaritan helps his enemy.

“Do not judge others and you will not be judged”.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you”.