British Values

The Department for Education requires schools to actively 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.  These ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.

Wainscott Primary School is a culturally diverse school situated just outside the Medway town of Rochester.

At Wainscott we recognise that 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.”

The Government set out its definition of British Values in the 2011 PREVENT strategy, and these values were reiterated in 2014.  At Wainscott these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways.  We keep an up to date audit of all such teaching and learning opportunities.

Democracy

At the beginning of each year, children at Wainscott revisit their school and class rules and consider the rights and responsibilities expected with these. All children are encouraged to contribute to these discussions.  The children also affirm the school’s expectations and every child and member of staff take responsibility for instilling these values into the school community.  Through our school values, the children and staff actively engage with each other to create harmonious learning environments and everyone is responsible for this.

Knowledge & understanding

• To have knowledge of, and respect for public institutions and services.

• To know how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process.

• To understand how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged.

What do we do?

• Children have visited the local Magistrate’s Court and taken part on mock trials.

• Visits from our local Councillors, Police Officers and other public services.

• Help pupils to express their views through debates and persuasive writing.

• Hold elections for members of the Pupil Parliament.

• Within Pupil parliament, cabinets are created for the following areas: curriculum, health and wellbeing, environment and sports.

• Through pupil voice we create theme days.

At Wainscott, children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard.  We have a pupil parliament that meets regularly. The parliament members are elected by peers and children in EYFS to 6, and have an opportunity to prepare reasons as to why they should be elected to be a representative on Pupil Parliament.

Mutual Respect

Respect and responsibility are key aspects that are at the heart of school life at Wainscott.  Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others.  The close, positive relationships at Wainscott are valued and we see this as being a key to enabling all children to access their learning. Collective Worship regularly covers the theme of ‘respect’ and pupils have been part of discussions related to what this means and how we show it.  All members of the school community treat each other with respect.  Our celebration assemblies highlight children’s achievements both in and out of school. 

Individual Liberty

At Wainscott, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supporting environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and empowering education.  Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms. They are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our PSHE and e-Safety lessons.

Knowledge & understanding

• To know their rights.

• To understand the concept of freedom of speech.

• To be able to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

 What do we do?

• Give praise and rewards to help develop pupils' self-esteem and confidence.

• Provide support for targeted pupils to develop their self-esteem and social skills.

• Provide opportunities for pupils to discuss and challenge stereotypes within PSHE lessons.

• Raise awareness of anti-bullying in school through anti-bullying and e-safety weeks

• Provide opportunities for pupils to discuss bullying and friendship issues with PSHE.

• Promote freedom of speech through in-class debates on topical issues.

Whether it is through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities’, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

The Rule of Law

At Wainscott, the importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.

Knowledge & understanding

• To distinguish right from wrong.

• To understand relevant aspects of law.

• To respect the law and the basis on which it is made.

• To understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.

What do we do?

• Talks from our local PCSOs / Police Officers.

• Ensure the school Code of Conduct is highly visible in school and frequently referred to by staff.

• Explore the concepts of right and wrong within PSHE lessons.

• Run Anti-Bullying initiatives including an anti-bullying week.

• Provide training in Social Skills and Collaborative Play.

Pupils are taught from an early age the rules of school through our school values.  They are taught the reasons and values behind laws and rules, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves, and the consequences when laws are broken.  Through our whole school approach, we enable children to develop the language and strategies to solve conflict and to right wrongs.  Visits from authorities, such as the Police and the Fire Service and a visit to a local Magistrates Court to take part in a mock trial reinforce this.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Wainscott is at the heart of an increasingly culturally diverse area of Medway and we celebrate this.  Assemblies celebrate different festivals such as Harvest, Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas.  RE lessons focus upon all religions and children are encouraged to understand the beliefs and values of different faiths.  We also take into account the views of non-believers and children understand that this aspect of faith is as important. Children have visitors from and visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. Our rich cultural and social diversity is used to nurture children and gain positive experiences from their fellow peers. 

Knowledge & understanding

• To understand and respect their own and other cultures and ways of life.

• To understand the importance of respect for individual differences.

• To recognise and know how to deal with prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

What do we do?                     

• Visits to places of worship such as churches and mosques.

• Provide opportunities for pupils to learn about other faiths within RE lessons and visitors.

• Invite pupils and their families to speak to classes and share information about their faith.

• Discuss differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability and sexuality within PSHE lessons.

• Provide opportunities for pupils to develop skills in critical thinking through in-class debates.

• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour by pupils.

British history, heritage and traditions

We celebrate and teach the children about the full calendar of traditional British events including, Harvest, Bonfire Night, Christmas, New Year, Shrove Tuesday, Easter and Mayday as well as St George, St Patrick and other Saints, Remembrance Sunday, Royal Family events like the Jubilee or the birth of Prince George. Children attend Brownies, Rainbows and Cubs and are encouraged to discuss their outside pursuits with staff. The children also learn about British Legends and folk stories such as Robin Hood.

We also teach the children about the positive contribution made to the world by notable figures such as Florence Nightingale, Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens.

Children visit places of cultural significance including museums, castles and cathedrals, historic Rochester and London.

Our goal is to encourage our children to believe that by taking pride in the contribution they make to modern British life they become better citizens not just in our country but throughout the world.