Promoting British Values

at Lady Margaret Primary School

Promoting British Values at Lady Margaret Primary School

The DfE have 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 have been reiterated by the Prime Minister this year. At Lady Margaret these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways

Democracy:

Democracy is prevalent within the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council, Ambassador roles and Pupil questionnaires.

The elections of School Council representatives are based solely on pupil votes. Our school behaviour policy involves rewards which the pupils vote on as a class group. Debates and voting are strategies of pupil voice that are regularly used across the curriculum. Democracy is taught as a key element of our curriculum.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced through regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils 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.

Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. The school operates a whole school code of conduct from which pupils in each class derive a set of classroom rules which are displayed and regularly referred to. We have integrated the Rights Respecting Agenda into our curriculum.

Individual Liberty:

Identify is developed by enabling pupils 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 provision of a safe environment and empowering education.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are given advice on how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHCE lessons.

Mutual Respect:

Respect is a cornerstone of our school ethos and school code of conduct. Pupils take part in discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, underpinned through our Behaviour for Learning policy.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

This is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity for example, by year group visits to the places of worship of the main religions. Through assemblies and lessons pupils share aspects of different faith systems and cultures with one another and tolerance of different lifestyles.

Any form of discriminatory language including homophobic name calling will be challenged. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE, PSHCE and Rights Respecting. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

The Prevent Strategy

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorists or extremist causes. The Prevent strategy covers all types of extremism, including the extreme right-wing, violent religious groups and other causes.

Since July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism in the same way we would protect them from drugs, gang violence and knife crime.

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy. These include:

Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values.
Promoting diversity through exploring other cultures and religions.
Teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect.
Challenging prejudices and racist comments.
Our E-safety policies and procedures, which protect children from accessing extremist material online.
Vetting visitors coming to the school to work with pupils.

Staff at Lady Margaret have received training around the prevent strategy and we make sure that any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.

We aim to give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views that they may encounter, now or later in their lives. You will find more information in our child protection and safeguarding policy. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Prevent strategy and what it means for your child, please do not hesitate in contacting the school.

The Department for Education has published guidance on protecting children from radicalisation this can be accessed by click the link.