british values statement
introduction
At Horsforth Featherbank Primary School we ensure that through our vision, values, rules, curriculum and teaching we promote tolerance and respect for all cultures, faiths and lifestyles. We teach our children how to lead safe lives and prepare our children for life in modern Britain. We value the diverse backgrounds of all pupils and families; we undertake a variety of events, visits, assemblies and lessons to celebrate these. In this way we develop tolerance and respect for the differences in our community and the wider world. Underpinning this we have a broad range of curriculum topics which have strong links to local and British History.
Overview
Horsforth Featherbank Primary School values and celebrates the community it serves. We recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom and understand the crucial role we play in promoting these values.
Through our provision we:
- Enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England.
- Encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely.
- Enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England.
- Further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures.
- Encourage and model respect for other people.
- Encourage respect for democracy.
- Promote an understanding of how people can influence decision-making through the democratic process.
- Encourage an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety.
- Teach an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law.
- Encourage 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 teach an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.
Democracy
To understand how they can influence decision making through a democratic process.
We empower our pupils by seeking their opinions and listening and responding to their voices. We ensure they understand how they can communicate to shape their education.
Pupils have their voices heard through our Pupil Council and pupil questionnaires. The elections of Pupil Council Members are based solely on pupil votes.
The School Council itself is led by a member of staff and representatives take feedback from their classes to meetings in order to influence and develop policy and provision. The impact of the School Council is reported to Governors and published on the school website.
The principle of democracy is also explored in the History and RE curriculum as well as in assemblies. We explore how democracy and the law works in Britain in contrast to other forms of government in other countries.
mutual respect
To understand that while people may hold different views, we may show respect towards them.
Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy revolves around core values such as ‘Respect’. Pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. These ideas are reiterated through academy and classroom rules.
Our PSHE curriculum embodies values of Mutual Respect.
Our PE curriculum is another element that promotes an attitude of equality and fairness.
Our staff effectively model Mutual Respect through their daily, professional, supportive working relationships with one another, parents and pupils.
We deliver assemblies which uphold traditional values of empathy, respect and tolerance. These are also taught within PSHE and RE lessons and on an informal nature throughout the school day.
the rule of law
To appreciate that living under the rule of law protects us and is essential for our well being and safety.
The importance of laws (or rules), whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days; when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.
Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws and rules; that they govern and protect us; the responsibilities that they hold and the consequences when laws and rules are broken. We work with other agencies, such as the police to ensure that our children develop an understanding of how these public services keep us safe.
We have a clearly structured, restorative behaviour policy which all stakeholders understand and follow.
The concept of the Rule of Law is also reinforced through teaching activities in our PSHE curriculum
Tolerance of those of different faith and beliefs
To accept that others have different faiths or beliefs (or none) and these should be accepted and tolerated.
This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity.
Assemblies often address different forms of prejudice and outline how, as a school, we never tolerate discrimation or bullying of any kind.
We follow the Leeds agreed syllabus for RE which provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. Children learn about the values of each religion, often identifying commonality and shared principles. We celebrate different festivals in school and give children a voice to share their religious and cultural experiences with their peers.