Teaching British Values

Promoting British Values at Alderman Payne Primary School

The DfE have recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote 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 this year (2014). At Alderman Payne these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

The school rules are annually reviewed with the children in each class. We have a Children’s council, which meets regularly during the school year. These children have had to write a presentation to their peers to persuade them why they should be elected to the role at the start of the year. Each school councillor was voted for by their class. The school council is genuinely able to effect change within the school.

Democracy is also actively practised in classes with children voting on a range of issues, from how to improve the facilities on the school playground to which bird should be the national British bird.

The children have electronic questionnaires on issues about the school for example what they think of new teaching schemes introduced in school. These then feed into future planning.

How we influence democracy is explored through PSHCE and assemblies. This includes looking at historical figures such as Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks and exploring the effectiveness of different approaches.

This is achieved through:

• Children involved in Democratic processes eg. Choosing school councillors, rewards and incentives etc.
• Democracy linked assemblies
• School Council
• Opportunity to vote in national events e.g. the Great British Bird Elections
• Links to the Parish Council; designing poster to prevent dog fouling in the village

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be by those that govern the class, the school, or the country is consistently reinforced at Alderman Payne.

Pupils are taught from an early age the ‘rules’ of the school. These are our Alderman Payne Golden Values. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Many of these rules and laws are taught through our PSHCE curriculum and in assemblies. This includes many safety aspects, such as: road safety, firework safety, e-safety and fire safety. We also have strong links with our community support officer who comes into school to work with our older children.

This is achieved through:

• School Behaviour Policy – all stakeholders are aware of the policy and it is understood and followed.
• Pupils have regular opportunities to reflect e.g. Learning, their behaviour, during assemblies
• Parent/Carers Questionnaires relating to behaviour, safety etc.
• Children’s questionnaire relating to behaviour and safety
• Assemblies with a focus linked to the law e.g. school rules, parliament, NSPCC etc.
• Contact with parents at the end of the day
• School building links with local police. Police visit and carry out assemblies linked to projects e.g. People who help us
• Curriculum opportunities to explore people and events both past and present

Individual Liberty

At Alderman Payne, 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 from where pupils can make informed choices, through a safe environment (both in the real world and through our online learning platform – Starz Plus.) and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety and PSHCE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record (for example using an iPad or not or how they present group work), of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given freedom to make choices.

Stereotypes are regularly challenged at Alderman Payne and we’ve worked hard to raise the aspirations of all of our children through our annual Y6 careers convention. This provides opportunities for children to see and experience different career possibilities.

This is achieved through:

• Understanding responsibility in school in terms of behaviour and learning attitude
• Pupils roles in school
• School values – known and articulated by school community members
• What went wrong reflection following behaviour incidents (links to school values)
• Home/school agreements
• Values assemblies
• Values displayed around the school and evident in action
• Curriculum coverage of social justice and how to share views appropriately and effectively

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and the rights of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

We have a space for children, which organises support for children (sometimes with outside agencies) and the development of specific children’s social and emotional skills for example art therapy and social skills.

Anti-bullying has a high profile within the school with it being addressed through general classroom practice, the PSHCE curriculum, assemblies and outside people, such as theatre groups. Children are also taught about respect and bullying in the online world, through our e-safety lessons. They also know what to do if they see something disrespectful.

This is achieved through:

• Social, Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) taught across all year groups as part of the PHSCE curriculum.
• Positive relationships encouraged and modelled, pupil – pupil, adult – pupil
• RE Curriculum
• Anti-bullying week and ongoing curriculum
• Opportunities to explore discrimination and its impact on individuals and communities
• School Council
• Parents Council 
• Parent view
• Competitive Sports links with other schools
• Focusing on cultures and languages 
• Peer reading buddies (buddy classes – circle of friends, sanctuary)
• Positive contributions to the community and society, for example Harvest festival food parcels to the elderly/food bank
• Caring for and respecting the environment and all living things

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Alderman Payne is not an especially diverse school. So we actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths sand cultures and our international primary curriculum. Religious Education lessons, assemblies and PSHCE lessons actively challenge stereotypes and reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others no matter their ethnicity, beliefs, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or any other protected characteristics (as outlined in the 2010 Equalities Act and article 14 of UNICEFs Rights of the child).

Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within the classes and school. Major religious festivals are acknowledged through assemblies and the RE curriculum.

At Alderman Payne, we actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to the values we hold as a school, including ‘extremist’ views.

This is achieved through:

• R.E Curriculum
• Visits to the Mosque and other places of worship
• Visitors to school e.g. Maasai Warriors
• Equalities Policy
• Accessibility Plan
• E- Twinning with countries in Europe
• Festival assembly celebrations e.g harvest, Diwali, Yom Kippur, phase assemblies
• Reflection opportunities in assemblies
• Reflective thoughts in assembly
• Learning music in other languages
• Sports Clubs