British Values

South View Community Primary School promotes the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils through a variety of ways.  In summary, we aim to provide:

• A balanced and rich curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to engage with the wider world and think about their place within it;
• Opportunities for pupils to actively engage with the democratic process, for example School Parliament playing a part in decision making at school;
• A PSHE curriculum which enables pupils to discuss issues beyond academic study, and which equips them with life skills;
• A varied assembly programme through which teachers and visitors present topics which help pupils to reflect upon themes which help foster an understanding of different cultural traditions, appreciate British culture, and understand right and wrong;
• Enrichment across the whole school which includes sporting, academic, musical, and other cultural opportunities.
• In developing our provision of SMSC, we also ensure that the promotion of fundamental British Values is fully embedded in the school ethos and curriculum.

For further details of how South View Community Primary School promotes fundamental British Values please see below:

Fundamental British Values

South View Community Primary School places great importance on promoting the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs*. In line with the guidance provided by the Department for Education, South View Community Primary School views this as a way of also helping to demonstrate how the school meets the requirements of section 78 of the Education Act 2002, in the provision of SMSC.

By promoting these values, staff and pupils feel empowered to challenge opinions or behaviours in school which are contrary to fundamental British values. Through the provision of SMSC, South View Community Primary School aims to:

• enable pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
• enable pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
• encourage pupils 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 pupils 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 pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
• encourage respect for other people; and
• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

(as taken and adapted from ‘Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools’ – DfE Nov 2014)

Please see below for details about how we teach FBV in the classroom.

*The Prevent strategy 2011: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-strategy-2011

Fundamental British Values in Early Years Foundation Stage

The fundamental British values of Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs are already implicitly embedded in the 2014 Early Years Foundation Stage.

Democracy: Making Decisions Together

As part of the focus on self-confidence and self-awareness as cited in Personal, Social and Emotional Development:

• Staff can encourage children to see their role in the bigger picture, encouraging children to know their views count, value each other’s views and values and talk about their feelings, for example when they do or do not need help. When appropriate demonstrate democracy in action, for example, children sharing views on what the theme of their role play area could be with a show of hands.
• Staff can support the decisions that children make and provide activities that involve turn-taking, sharing and collaboration. Children should be given opportunities to develop enquiring minds in an atmosphere where questions are valued.

Rule of Law: Understanding Rules Matter as cited in Personal Social and Emotional Development

As part of the focus on managing feelings and behaviour:

• Staff can ensure that children understand their own and others’ behaviour and its consequences, and learn to distinguish right from wrong.
• Staff can collaborate with children to create the rules and the codes of behaviour, for example, to agree the rules about tidying up and ensure that all children understand rules apply to everyone.

Individual Liberty: Freedom For All

As part of the focus on self-confidence & self-awareness and people & communities as cited in Personal Social and Emotional development and Understanding the World:

• Children should develop a positive sense of themselves. Staff can provide opportunities for children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and increase their confidence in their own abilities, for example through allowing children to take risks on an obstacle course, mixing colours, talking about their experiences and learning.
• Staff should encourage a range of experiences that allow children to explore the language of feelings and responsibility, reflect on their differences and understand we are free to have different opinions, for example in a small group discuss what they feel about transferring into Reception Class.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance for those with Different Faiths and Beliefs: Treat Others as you want to be treated

As part of the focus on people & communities, managing feelings & behaviour and making relationships as cited in Personal Social and Emotional development and Understanding the World:

• Managers and leaders should create an ethos of inclusivity and tolerance where views, faiths, cultures and races are valued and children are engaged with the wider community.
• Children should acquire a tolerance and appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures; know about similarities and differences between themselves and others and among families, faiths, communities, cultures and traditions and share and discuss practices, celebrations and experiences.
• Staff should encourage and explain the importance of tolerant behaviours such as sharing and respecting other’s opinions.
• Staff should promote diverse attitudes and challenge stereotypes, for example, sharing stories that reflect and value the diversity of children’s experiences and providing resources and activities that challenge gender, cultural and racial stereotyping.

What is not acceptable is:

• Actively promoting intolerance of other faiths, cultures and races.
• Failure to challenge gender stereotypes and routinely segregate girls and boys.
• Isolating children from their wider community.

• Failure to challenge behaviours (whether of staff, children or parents) that are not in line with the fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs.

Fundamental British Values in School

Democracy

At South View Community Primary School, democracy is a core part of the school’s life.  Children learn how democracy works by voting for school parliament for each year group and running the school parliament meetings on a democratic basis to make sure that the pupil voice is listened to and that children’s views are part of the decision-making process in school. Surveys and questionnaires are carried out to ensure that the pupil voice is listened to about matters directly affecting the children, for example which new equipment should be bought for the playground. Voting takes place for Sports Captains and for Responsibility Roles, including our Eco Warriors. National events are used as opportunities to teach democracy with reference to real life situations, for example, the General Election, the state opening of Parliament and the story of Guy Fawkes. The PSHE curriculum includes lessons about what MPs do, how Parliament works and in History, the study of Ancient Greece in Year 4 explores the origins of democracy. The parent association, the FOSV, is a democratically run organisation which provides the opportunity for pupils to organise and run stalls at the Christmas fete.

The Rule of Law

Our Code of Conduct, classroom rules  and a broad system of rewards and sanctions mean that pupils understand how there are rights and wrongs which must be understood and that we must all behave according to the rules in school. From an early age, children learn about people who help us in society. We encourage children to respect the roles of people who help us and this is supported by visits from organisations such as the Armed Forces, Police, Health Services, the Life Boat Service and the Fire Service. The eSafety awareness which is taught as part of the Computing curriculum and in PSHE is an important part of teaching children about the core value of “the rule of law” and how it is there to protect us. The system of having Play Leaders appointed in Year 6 allows peer role models to demonstrate how to put good behaviour into practice. Responsibility roles are incorporated within school which further support an ethos of following rules for the good of the whole school community

Individual Liberty

South View Community Primary School promotes choices for its pupils and aims to equip pupils with the tools needed to be responsible individuals. Staff encourage independence and support pupils as they grow more able to make their own decisions. From their earliest days at South View Community Primary School, children are taught how to choose activities, listen to others, share and express their views. There are many extra-curricular clubs on offer and this is an important part of learning to be an individual and having the freedom to choose new activities in the safe environment of school. In PSHE lessons, assemblies and circle times, pupils learn about human rights, hear the life stories of some inspirational individuals and are encouraged to think about what makes a good role model. Speakers are invited into school, and this has included former pupils who have gone on to undertake an individual challenge and can inspire others to believe in themselves.

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Our school’s motto, “Han in hand we learn together” supports an ethos of mutual respect. In assemblies, circle times and PSHE lessons the principles of treating others with respect, listening to each other’s views and striving to do one’s best support these values. At South View Community Primary School pupils are taught that prejudice-based or any other form of bullying should not be tolerated and pupils are taught how to treat all individuals fairly whilst acknowledging that everyone is different. At South View Community Primary School we value and celebrate the diverse heritages of everybody and we also value and celebrate being part of Britain. In school assemblies we celebrate traditions, including events such as the Harvest Festival during the Autumn term, when a collection of donations for the local charity Food Bank takes place and further instils the value of respecting and supporting others who may be in need. Remembrance Day is always marked with a reflective assembly and our School Parliament representatives take part in the local community’s parade for this.  In December, a local theatre’s pantomime is a highlight for the children which reflects a British tradition, whilst at Lunar New Year, the traditions of China are shared in assembly.

The curriculum covers all the major world religions. The programme of assemblies includes coverage and celebration of a range of religious festivals and cultural events throughout the year. In class, children are welcomed to share their personal knowledge of faith and culture and there are often opportunities for pupils to visit different religious places of worship as part of their curriculum. Children have the opportunity to take part in curriculum events which enable them to sample food from different cultures, to explore music from different cultures, create artwork based on a range of cultural influences and the English curriculum includes the study of literature from different cultural heritages.

Charities are supported in school throughout the year and these include both local and national causes. Speakers come into school to explain how these charities help other which underpins the fundamental British value of mutual respect and tolerance.

 

Our School Values (derived from ‘British Values’)