Promoting British Values at Willow Wood Primary School
British Value Statement at Willow Wood Community Primary School
The Department for Education state that there is a 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 by the Prime Minister in 2014. At Willow Wood Primary School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways.
At Willow Wood Community Primary School we take our responsibility to prepare the children for life in modern Britain very seriously. We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and, in particular, our RE and PSHE lessons provide opportunities to deepen and develop children’s understanding. We make considerable efforts to ensure children have exposure to a wide experience beyond the school and the local community, during which these concepts are shown, for example, through sporting events, educational visits and residential opportunities. Their strong rooted values, learning and experience gives the children the ability to be empathetic, well-rounded citizens as well as being able to celebrate differences.
Our values are regularly promoted through high quality teaching, a well-planned programme of assemblies as well as our Behaviour and Self-Regulation Policy. We provide our children with opportunities to develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate and contribute fully and positively as well-rounded citizens to life in modern Britain.
Democracy
Democracy is embedded at the school. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council who hold regular meetings with staff and other stakeholders. The elections of the School Council members are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action.
We have a say in what happens at our school.
Each class vote for two pupils to represent them on the school council.
The school council work together with staff to decide which charities to support and they communicate with the headteacher to get equipment for school and to represent the wishes of the children in how the school changes and evolves.
We listen to children’s and parent’s voice.
Our school behaviour policy is clear that children are expected to contribute and co-operate; taking into account the views of others.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced. Willow Wood Primary School has whole school rules which are deeply embedded in our work every day. Each class also discusses and sets its own rules that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. Our 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. In R.E. lessons, the older children also look at justice and how this can be different to a law.
We understand the consequences of breaking the rules and discuss how breaking the rules affects others.
We help to decide fair rules for the school and are responsible for upholding them.
We work hard as classes to uphold expectations on us.
We understand the importance of having laws and know that they protect us and influence our behaviour.
We understand how laws are made in parliament and that we need to live by the laws and that there can be consequences if we don’t.
From entry to school pupils are continuously taught to understand the difference between right and wrong.
All children follow our three golden rules which are integral to our ethos and learning each day.
Our behaviour and self-regulation policy constantly reinforces our high expectations of children. Children understand the reasons behind our rules and understand that they are in place to protect us.
Individual Liberty
Within school, 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 for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our e-safety lessons which underpin our computing curriculum. Whether it is through choice of challenge; of how they record; of participation in our numerous extra- curricular activities; our pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
We can make our own choices in school. We can choose when we go to the toilet, when we go for a drink, who we sit with for lunch, who we play with and how hard to challenge ourselves.
Children make decisions knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
We have the freedom to make choices about how much we read and how much effort we put into our homework.
We know that we need to work within safe boundaries and make safe choices for ourselves and others.
As a school we have various visitors each year who come into school to help us to make safe choices- Walkwise, Bikeability, Fire Safety, NSPCC, School Nurses etc.
Mutual Respect
Respect is one of the guiding principles within our school, and features strongly in our vision. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small. The core value of Respect at Willow Wood underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom.
School ethos is built on mutual respect and we know that mutual respect is a vital component for moral development.
We are an inclusive school where everyone is valued and has a valuable contribution to make.
Everyone in our community is expected to treat others with respect.
Staff help children to understand how to treat others with respect and model respectful relationships at all times.
Staff and children are expected to challenge prejudicial language and actions at all times; as well as discriminatory behaviour.
Tolerance of Those With Different Faiths And Beliefs
Our core value of Respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs. Willow Wood Primary School enhances pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies and through enjoying a depth of study through themed weeks and events. Through this our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society.
We enjoy learning about different faiths and cultures from around the world in RE, Culture weeks and wider work.
We promote diversity through celebrations of different faiths and cultures.
We know that we are part of a diverse society and have the opportunities to experience different cultures.
We understand how prejudice can lead to hate and know how important it is to overcome prejudice.
Members of different faiths are welcome into our school, and we go and visit places of worship so that we can share our knowledge.
We use world events to learn about different cultures.
