Promoting British Values

The DfE have 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.”

The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated. At The Reddings, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Each year, the children, in conjunction with all stakeholders, decide upon the ‘Vision, Values and Aims’ of the school and the rights and expectations associated with these. All the children contribute to the vision statement during school assemblies. Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues affecting learners. Two council members for each year group are democratically voted in by their class. The council is able to genuinely effect change within the school. Children have a questionnaire, twice a year, with which they are able to put forward their views about the school.

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. Learners 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 school has a pro-social behaviour policy which is discussed at an age appropriate level so that all learners take ownership of the expectations within our school.

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 learners 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 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.

Mutual Respect

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

At The Reddings we value the diverse ethnic backgrounds of all pupils and families and undertake a variety of as it teaches tolerance and respect for the differences in our community and the wider world. As a school we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity within the school and wider world. 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. This is reinforced through our teaching .

Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.

At The Reddings we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views. All staff are trained in ‘Prevent.’

These values are implicitly embedded through the ethos of our school and curriculum.