Fundamental British Values

We recognise our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain and we are committed to ensuring that the fundamental British values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of our school. We value the diverse backgrounds of all pupils, staff and families and celebrate these through a wide range of lessons and events, teaching acceptance and respect for each other, the differences in our community and the wider world.

What are British Values?

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key British Values are taught in all UK schools.

Actively promoting British Values also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including extremist views.

The government set out its definition of British values in the Prevent Strategy:

Democracy

The rule of law

Individual liberty

Mutual respect

Acceptance of those of different faiths and beliefs

At Crowthorne CofE we acknowledge that many other countries and societies share and promote these values.

British values at Crowthorne Church of England Primary School

The fundamental British Values are consistently modelled by all staff within the school community. They are also part of the PSHE Curriculum, delivered through the scheme ‘Lifewise’.   

Democracy:

Democracy is an integral part of school life. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and Pupil questionnaires.

Other examples include:

• The election of School Councillors based solely on pupil votes.

• Regular meetings of the School Council ensuring the reinforcement of democratic processes, the application of freedom of speech and group action to address needs and concerns.

• Pupils nominate a child in their class to receive rewards.

• School visits from local MP.

• Understanding of the differences between local and national roles for politicians.

• Books are purchased reflecting the various issues in our world: acceptance, equality, different faiths.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of laws, whether they be those rules 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 collective worship. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind boundaries, rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences should rules and laws get broken.

Examples of activities include:

• School and class rules are shared with parents and carers.

• Class charters are created through discussions with pupils around rights and how pupils/teachers will ensure these rights are respected. Pupils learn a sense of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ through the setting of classroom rules within an overall behaviour policy with its clear rewards and sanctions.

• Sporting events, a range of visits and use of outdoor education centres are planned to ensure children’s experiences are broad, meaningful and varied and they understand the concept of ‘fair play’.

• Anti-bullying focus/range of events and activities.

• Keeping Safe in School & On the internet and workshop for parents on internet safety.

• Police visits/workshops to support PSHE curriculum.

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 young pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are guided on how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record or participate in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Examples include:

• Encouraging pupils to make the right choice through being made aware of consequences of choices and actions.

• Subject leaders interviewing pupils about their learning and achievements – so that individual learning styles can be taken into account and reflected in teaching and learning.

• Stories and themes in assemblies reflect the theme of liberty and freedom with context of Christian belief (and free will).

• Children make appropriate decisions to use good learning behaviours in class to maximize the progress in their learning, making positive contributions to establishing ‘law and order’ in our classes.

Mutual Respect:

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around core values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and collective worship related to what this means and how it is shown.

Examples of activities include:

• Rewards for politeness and star of the week

• Fundraising for charities

• Leadership commitment and monitoring to ensure there is consistency in class approaches to this work

• Class Good-Citizens celebrated in assemblies

• The concept of ‘fair play’, being magnanimous in defeat and participation in activities that promote kinship and affiliation with others are actively promoted in school

Mutual respect is also taught within formal PSHE, RSE and RE lessons and on an informal nature throughout the school days. Pupils 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 policy and PSHE curriculum.

Acceptance and respect for those of Different Faiths and Beliefs and those with no faith:

As a church school, collective worship is fundamentally Christian in character, but recognises that those attending may have a wide range of faiths, or none.

Acceptance and respect of those of different faiths and beliefs is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity.

Collective worship and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

Examples include:

• Collective Worship where stories, images, events & music promote agreed and accepted values.

• ‘Philosophy for Children’ (P4C) is delivered each week, across the school, encouraging and equipping children to challenge opinions and deepen their thinking on a wide range of issues.

• PSHE Programme with a focus on respect and acceptance of difference

• Debating is a regular part of lessons and pupils listen to contrasting viewpoints

• Ensuring that acceptance is promoted through diverse resources – e.g. books that describe different religions, family circumstances etc.

• All incidents of racism or any form of bullying related to disability, religious or other issues are recorded and dealt with in line with agreed procedures

• The RE curriculum reflects major world faiths and is taught across the school. 

British History within the Curriculum

Our school offers a range of curriculum topics which have strong links to Britain both past and present. As a school we encourage knowledge of current affairs that are significant to us as a nation.  The History curriculum has been reviewed to ensure it is diverse and to challenge and remove any white British bias.

Examples include:

• Across all years, there is a strong focus on the work of famous British figures both past and present. The children enjoy learning about people from the past and in particular those who have had an impact on the modern world and our community.

• Each classroom is named after a significant figure from British History.  Children are introduced to this character at the beginning of the year and study the contribution they have made to British life.

• The World War 1 centenary was an important event , which saw the community gather together to celebrate and remember the fallen of the Parish

• A number of activities were planned in school to mark the centenary, including a Remembrance Day Service, wreath-laying at the memorial and money-raising events for our armed forces charities.

• The school is proud of its history and takes every opportunity to use first hand historical evidence to find out more about its past.

Daily acts of collective worship/ whole school assembly

We have acts of worship each day.

Our assemblies uphold traditional values of empathy, respect and acceptance.  We attend church regularly and parents are invited to join us for each service.