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, these values have been reiterated by the Prime Minister this year. At Victoria Park Primary Academy these values are reinforced regularly in the following ways:
The curriculum is mapped in detail across the whole school. Listed below are some examples of how we promote these values in our school community:
Democracy
Pupil voice is an integral part of life at Victoria Park Primary Academy. Our pupil elected school council plays a strong role in decision making for our school. They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making the school a strong learning community. More recently we have elected a Changemaker Team which consists of members of our School Council, School Buddies, Spice Ambassadors and representatives from our CLEAR (Child Lead Evaluation and Review) team. Pupils have a great amount of input in regards to what and how they learn, enabling a louder pupil voice. For example, the pupils decide as a class how they would like to learn certain skills within subjects; this information is used to inform the teacher’s planning.
Pupil questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. We know that the formation of the school council and the active participation of our pupils 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, PSHE and our curriculum. The involvement of our pupils in the creation of their class rules helps them to understand the reasons behind implementing them and what the consequences are if they are broken. 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 great deal of time in creating a positive culture in our school, so that children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. In lessons, learning tasks are often left for the child to decide upon. We encourage children to choose a task which will challenge them, giving them more freedom to determine their own learning and thus empowers them as learners. We offer a range of clubs which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our E-Safety we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. At Victoria Park Primary Academy 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
Mutual respect is at the core of our school life. Pupils learn to treat each other and staff with great respect. This is evident when walking around the school and into the classrooms. Specific learning challenges in the curriculum promote respect for people of all faiths (or none), cultures and lifestyles through effective spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils. An example of this is through our Year 5 Autumn NICER topic ‘Pillars and Drains’.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
At Victoria Park Primary Academy we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum; where 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 in turn can help to build a better Britain for the future.