British Values
Our aim at Black Horse Hill Infant School is to encourage pupils to develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in Britain. We actively promote the fundamental British Values and this forms part of our wider work in school with children in relation to their Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education (SMSC).
The British Values, as defined by the government, are:
Democracy
The Rule of Law
Individual Liberty
Mutual Respect
Tolerance of different Faiths and Beliefs (we prefer to say celebrate different faiths and beliefs)
We teach a broad and balanced curriculum that teaches elements of democracy, rules and laws, the monarchy, equality, values and virtues, environmental awareness and understanding of different faiths. Actively promoting British Values also refers to challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values. At our school we accept and celebrate differences. This creates a climate within which pupils feel safe and secure and therefore allows them to learn and develop.
These British Values are promoted throughout the curriculum, across the whole school. They are also seen in the school ethos, policies, assemblies, special events and cultural celebrations. The following are a selection of activities that are evidence of our commitment to British Values.
We teach children about Democracy through:
- Children being involved in democratic processes e.g. voting for school parliament, choosing the book to read at the end of the school day, voting for end of term behaviour reward.
- School Parliament- recognising that we all have a say in our school.
- Developing our children’s awareness of our parliamentary system and the role of the Prime Minister.
We teach children about Rule of Law through:
- Clear moral code in place in school called the Golden Rules
Be safe, Be Kind, Work Hard
- School behaviour policy
- Rewards and incentives for following rules
- Class rules are decided at the beginning of the year
- Traffic Light behaviour system in playground
- Kings and Queens – following assembly rules
- Reflecting on behaviour and choices made
- Parent/ carer questionnaires about behaviour
We teach children about Individual Liberty through:
- Recognising through our curriculum that we are all different but equal and we can make our own choices as long as we don’t hurt or upset anyone else
- Individual hobbies and achievements are celebrated in assembly
- Challenging stereotypes in school
- Children understanding that they can respect the views of others but they can also disagree.
- Participate in debate- Is plastic a good or a bad thing? Is it fair that in some countries girls are not allowed to attend school? Would you prefer to be a child in the 1950’s or now? Should Rosa Parks have given up her seat on the bus?
We teach children about Mutual Respect through:
- Jigsaw PSHE curriculum ( Being Me in my World and Celebrating Differences)
- Anti-bullying assemblies
- Assemblies- children learn about different religious beliefs and celebrations through the year.
- Visitors to school
- Challenging Racism assembly (MEAS)
- KS1 RE curriculum to include Islam and Hinduism
- Participation in equality raising awareness events such as Black History Month, Neuro- Diversity Month, Cerebral Palsy month
We teach children about Tolerance through:
- Assemblies – stories from world faiths and cultures
- RE curriculum
- Reflection opportunities in assemblies
- School curriculum
- Special assemblies – Harvest, Christingle, Remembrance Day
- PSHE
- Exposing children to positive and significant role models from both the present and the past.
