As a school we promote the 5 fundamental British Values of:

• Democracy
• Rule of Law
• Mutual Respect
• Tolerance others with different faith and beliefs
• Individual Liberty

By actively promoting these values means that we challenge opinions or behaviours in our school that are contrary to fundamental British values. We fully recognise that any attempts to promote systems that undermine fundamental British values are completely at odds with our duty to provide SMSC.

The list below describes the understanding and knowledge expected of pupils as a result of schools promoting fundamental British values.

• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
• an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety;
• an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence;
• an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
• an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour; and an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.

Democracy is an important value at our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council. The elections of members of the School Council are based on pupil votes from a proper voting process. This supports pupils to understand how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process.

Our School Council plays a large part in supporting the leadership in running the school and making changes and the pupils are actively involved in the recruitment of both Teachers and TAs.
 

• Pupils regularly have a say in what happens in our school because we have an active School Council and conduct regular pupil surveys
• Pupils vote for who represents them on their School Council or as house captains
• Pupils help to decide which charities we raise money for, for our annual Charity Day
• Pupils help develop and evaluate school policies and guidelines – including those on behaviour and the aims of the school – through regular pupil surveys and questions to class
• Pupils help with identifying impact of special ‘wow’ days which help the leadership team decide on the next step

The importance of laws and rules, whether they are 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. From an early age pupils are taught the need for rules in school and the community. Our system for behaviour is aligned to an agreed code of conduct and if pupils are given verbal warnings, this is always against the agreed school behaviour policy. Pupils are asked to identify which aspect of the code they have broken to ensure that this connection has been made and understood.

To encourage and promote good behaviour, attitude and work, we have a ‘behaviour for learning’ ladder which is consistently followed throughout the school. We are committed to praising Pupil effort whenever we can. We endeavour to praise pupils informally, individually, during group work, in front of the whole class and the whole school. Pupils are rewarded not only for achievement in curriculum areas, but also for positive behaviour, demonstration of our values both in and outside of school and use of growth mindset and positive attitude.

Rewards are given in the form of stickers, house points, and moving up the ladder to ‘Outstanding’. Pupils’ achievements are also recognised during Achievement Assemblies.

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities this involves and the consequences when the laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce these messages.

• Pupils understand how laws are made in parliament
• Pupils understand the importance of having laws, and know that they protect us and influence our behaviour because visits from RAF police/Military Transport Personnel and Police Community Support Officers are used to talk to pupils about their responsibilities in their community and how to stay safe
• Pupils understand the consequences of breaking laws and rules
• Pupils helped develop fair rules for their class and for the school

Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices at our school, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our children to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and well-planned curriculum – based on pupil choices and interests.

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 teaching and PSHCE sessions.

Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. signing up for extra-curricular clubs and the level of learning they complete in class. EYFS pupils are given the freedom to self select their learning activities as part of continual provision. All pupils are encouraged to make personal choices about the food they eat.

• Pupils are able to make their own choices in school
• Pupils know that everybody has rights and responsibilities
• Pupils know that they need to work within boundaries to make safe, good choices
• Pupils know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms safely
• Pupils have the freedom to make choices about attending our range of extra-curricular provision
• Pupils have the freedom to make choices about the level of challenge in some lessons
• Pupils have the freedom to make choices about how their classroom is organised and what goes on display in their learning environment
• Pupils are able to choose from a range of meal choices as part of our provision

Our school vision and aims – which underpin everything we do as a school – focus on the importance of all pupils and staff living our values, which include respect and responsibility. Pupils are regularly involved in discussions related to what this means and how it is shown through our PSHCE lessons and assemblies. Assemblies regularly promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and school rules, as well as our behaviour policy and guidelines.

• Pupils know that their behaviour affects their rights and the rights of others
• Pupils treat other people with respect
• Pupils work together to help one another
• Pupils make all new pupils and visitors feel very welcome in our school

This is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving pupils opportunities to experience such diversity in our local community which is by large white British.

Pupils are involved in assemblies and class discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying and learning in RE and PSHCE lessons raises pupils’ awareness of those of different faiths and beliefs and importance of both respecting and showing tolerance towards these. We use opportunities such as a visiting Rabbi, International Cookathon and the Olympics to study and learn about life and culture in our own and other countries.

• Pupils enjoy learning about different faiths and cultures from around the world
• We promote diversity through celebrations of different faiths and cultures
• Our pupils know that they are part of a culturally diverse society and have opportunities to experience different cultures
• Pupils understand how prejudice can lead to hate and how important it is to overcome prejudices
• Members of different faiths are welcome in our school and are encouraged to share their knowledge with us
• Pupils enjoy learning about places of worship from different faiths