British Values
Promoting British values
We agree with and promote the Department for Education’s five part definition of British Values:
• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs and those without faith
We believe it is incredibly important that these British Values permeate through every school in the country. At Stedham Primary School you will encounter these values throughout our everyday school life. Our values are underpinned in our school ethos which correlates with our British Values. Below is just a snap shot of how we promote these values in our school community:
Democracy:
Pupil voice plays a big part in life at Stedham Primary. Our pupil elected school council plays a strong role in our school. They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making our school a better place to learn. Pupils have input in their learning and what they would like to learn which promotes pupil voice. For example, when appropriate, the pupils decide as a class how they would like to learn certain skills in subjects and this is used to inform the teacher’s planning. Pupil questionnaires and conferences are also conducted each year. We know that the formation of the school council, explicit teaching through PSHCE and within assemblies and the active participation of our pupils in locality events such as ‘Vote for Me Day’ will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.
The Rule of Law:
Our pupils will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. We want our pupils to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the neighbourhood or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to. This understanding of the importance of rules will be consistently reinforced through assemblies and our curriculum. The involvement of our pupils in the creation of their class rules helps them to understand the reasons behind rules and the consequences if rules are broken. Through PSHCE lessons, we allow opportunity to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community including police, war veterans, the fire brigade and many more. We believe that clear explanations and real life stories emphasise the importance of the Rule of Law for our pupils.
Individual Liberty:
We invest a lot of time in creating a positive culture in our school, so children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. In lessons, learning tasks are, when appropriate, left for the child to decide upon. We encourage children to choose the task that will challenge them, giving them more freedom to determine their own learning. We offer a range of clubs which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our E-Safety and PSHCE sessions, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. We believe that valuing choice and freedom in daily school life will foster a value for individual liberty as the children embark upon their adult lives.
Mutual Respect:
Our pupils learn together with absolute respect for each other. We change talk partners regularly and every pupil knows that we respect and appreciate each other; no matter what differences may exist. Mutual respect is at the core of our school life and a lack of respect is immediately challenged and addressed.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs:
Our rural Sussex location means we are not surrounded by endless diversity and so we seek this out through visits, visitors and learning experiences in order to be able to respect and celebrate diversity with understanding. As a Community School we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. Parents and leaders of different faiths are welcomed to the school to share their beliefs, while we also aim to visit places of worship. At Stedham Primary we strongly believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.