British Values

Promoting British Values at Corrigham Primary School

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, and these values have been reiterated by the Prime Minister this year.

At CPS these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy:
Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School and Eco Councils: the class representatives are voted for by their classmates.
During weekly sessions children are encouraged to share their views with each other.

The Rule of Law:
The importance of Laws whether they be the class and school rules which have been discussed and agreed with the children that are consistently reinforced throughout the day or the law of the country. The children 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 our Community Police Officer help to reinforce this message.

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 safety, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education; e.g. in lessons the children are made aware of the risks involved in the activities and are able to choose their own level of risk taking responsibility for keeping themselves safe by remaining within the safety guidelines.  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 and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect:
Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has evolved around values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour 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.
Assemblies 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.