British Values

Promoting British Values

The DfE have recently reinforced the 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 in 2014. At Rosewood these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways. We are developing an audit of all such teaching and learning opportunities.

Democracy

At the beginning of each year the children decide upon their class charter and their rights and responsibilities associated with these. All the children in each class contribute to the drawing up of the charter.

Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class council meetings. The council has its own budget which has been created through its own fund raising activities, and is able to genuinely effect change within the school. Both of the school council members for each class are voted in by their class.

School also sends an elective representative to Burnley Primary Schools Parliament which meets regularly and works towards effecting change within the borough.

The Rule of Law

The importance of Laws, whether they be 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. Children 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. The principles of Restorative Justice are clear in the discussions of consequences and children are taught the importance of putting right the things that have gone wrong. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

Within school, children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. These choices are not just linked with academic choices as the children are also activiely encouraged to make the right choices in terms of behaviour and actions. When these choices are sometimes the wrong choices these are then discussed so the impact of these choices can be recognised allowing the children to learn from this. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young children to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, children are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect

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

Our Playground Pals lead by example with our younger children when they support our welfare staff at lunchtimes. They model expected behaviours, treat their peers and other with respect and explain these important messages of respect in their actions for others to copy.

Our Year 6 children are also given high expectations from all staff that they lead by example for younger members of our school communty by modelling respect for their peers and all adults within school. They are reminded that others will look up to them, both in and out of school, and that their role of developing mutual respect is an important part of our school community.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Rosewood is situated in an area which is not greatly culturally diverse, therefore we place an increased emphasis on promoting diversity with our children. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforces this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Wherever possible, children are given the opportunity to visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.

At Rosewood we will actively challenge children, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.