Promoting Fundamental British Values

In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law

The Key Values are:

  • democracy
  • rule of law
  • individual liberty
  • mutual respect
  • tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

We help children to remember the British Values through the thumb and finger model

Thumb – Democracy – up or down to give opinion.

Index finger – Rule of Law – pointing 

Middle finger – Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs – tallest finger pointing to God.

Ring Finger – Mutual respect – wedding ring – respect for other people

Little finger – Individual Liberty – sticks out on its own. 

 

Democracy

Democracy is richly embedded within the school. Each year the children decide upon their class charter and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the charter. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Circle Time sessions and through our School Ambassadors.  Our school behaviour policy sets out to balance a combination of rewards and sanctions to be used within a positive, supportive and democratic community atmosphere. This is shared through all aspects of school life and also shared with parents, carers and children from Reception to Year 6.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Worsthorne Primary School. 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 Service are a regular part of our calendar events and help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty:

As a school we provide a safe and supportive environment in which pupils are actively encouraged to make informed choices. This empowering approach is achieved by educating children to know and understand their rights and personal freedoms within defined boundaries. They are also advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our Online Safety and PSHE lessons.

Mutual Respect:

We wish to create a happy, secure environment in which the education of each child can flourish. Children are taught to respect one another and to care for the health safety and well-being of others. Our school Behaviour policy promotes Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils are part of lesson discussions related to what this means and how it is shown.  Our values are shared with home through newsletters and website information. Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others as do older children who have suitable, age related, tasks and responsibilities and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

Worsthorne Primary School is situated in an area which has limited cultural diversity. Therefore we place a great emphasis on actively offering children unique opportunities to learn and celebrate a variety of different faiths and cultures. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed up and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to visit school and share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. We also actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values.

 

 

As part of our British Value of Tolerance we are always thinking about different cultures and religions.

Tolerance means that we are able to accept that people may believe different things to us and still be able to live together happily. The best way to become tolerant of other people’s beliefs is to learn more about them.

Miss Ilyas, who is our RE lead, delivers a variety of assemblies about different events happening in a range of religions. We discussed the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Children learnt what fasting is- not eating or drinking during the daylight hours. They also learnt how it is a time where Muslim families come together in their faith and remember those around the world and at home who are less fortunate than themselves.

Our Reception children looked at the special book for Muslims, the Qur’an. To help them know more, we had a visit from Miss Ilyas. The children asked some great questions and listened very carefully.