British Values

British Values Statement

Elmridge Primary School is committed to serving its community.

We recognise the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom.

We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British society and to the world.

We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world. We follow equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, sexual orientation, political or financial status, or similar.

Elmridge is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its students.

Promoting British Values at Elmridge Primary School

Definition

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 this year (2014). At Chantlers Primary these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Children in our school have many opportunities to have their voice heard. We have a school council.

The school council meet regularly to discuss issues raised in class council meetings. The council has its own budget and is able to genuinely effect change within school. Members of the councils are voted in by their class peers. Each child either self-nominates or are nominated by a class peer. Each child produces a speech and is then democratically voted in by their class peers.

The Rule of Law

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout 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 help 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 our pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their right and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety, P4C and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, or participation in our numerous extracurricular clubs and opportunities pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect

At the very cornerstone of our ethos, ‘Empowering children to shape the world of tomorrow’ is mutual respect.  Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Elmridge Primary is situated in an area which is culturally diverse; we place a great emphasis on promoting and celebrating diversity with the children. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or indirectly through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforces this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.