“The values I’m talking about – a belief in freedom, tolerance of others, accepting personal and social responsibility, respecting and upholding the rule of law – are the things we should try to live by every day. To me they’re as British as the Union Flag, as football, as fish and chips. Of course, people will say that these values are vital to other people in other countries. And, of course, they’re right. But what sets Britain apart are the traditions and history that anchors them and allows them to continue to flourish and develop.”
David Cameron 2014
The Department for Education define British values as having 5 different elements:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
The promotion of British values and ethos is a key part of life at Hillside Primary School they are an integral element to our approach to teaching and learning and the wider school community.
The following information highlights just a few of the ways that these values form part of our every day school life.
Being part of Britain
At Hillside Primary School we welcome and promote diverse heritage. Alongside this, we value and celebrate being part of Britain. In general terms, this means that we celebrate traditions and customs throughout the year for the main faiths in our community, Christian, Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism.
Also, children learn about being part of Britain from different specific perspectives. Two specific examples of when we teach about being part of Britain are: Geographically and Historically.
Democracy
Every member of the school community; children, parents, staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard.
An example of this is our newly formed school council. The election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action. It is made up of 2 representatives from each class. The School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes.
Other examples of ‘pupil voice’ are:
- Children agree to uphold and respect the school rules and are actively encouraged to discuss what these mean and the importance of them.
- Children comment on their own work; children are asked to respond and reflect on their own learning as part of the marking process.
Pupils are listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.
Rules and Laws
The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices. Children from reception to year six are taught to value and uphold these rules which are:
- Be Kind
- Be Brave
- Be Safe
Pupils are taught to value and understand the reasons behind the laws; that these rules are necessary in order to create a safe, stimulating learning environment. Children are taught that each individual has a responsibility to uphold these rules in order to create a harmonious place to learn. We reinforce these rules in a positive way though restorative practice.
The teaching of British Values is reinforced in different ways:
- visits from authorities such as the police and fire service
- during Religious Education, when rules for particular faiths are thought about
- during other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules – in a sports lesson, for example.
We aim to provide children with an understanding of the importance of the Rule of law that will aid them in both in their life outside of school and in their future adult life.
Individual Liberty
We promote children’s freedom of choice and their right to hold and express views and beliefs in a respectfully and considered way. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment and empowered education, we have boundaries in place that allow children to make choices safely. We offer a range of clubs which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. At Hillside, 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 and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
Mutual respect and community spirit is at the heart of our school ethos. At Hillside, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. We strongly believe that acceptance is gained through knowledge and understanding. We also teach Language and Culture which focusses on the 3 main communities in our school, Romanian, Polish and Portuguese. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate acceptance and help children to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.
British Values
