British Values

Promoting British Values at The Duke of Bedford 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, 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 were reiterated last academic year (2014). The Duke of Bedford Primary School these British Values complement our school’s ‘Heart’ Values and are demonstrated and reinforced regularly in the following ways:

Democracy:

Each year, as children move on to a new class, they work in partnership with the class teacher to decide upon appropriate class rules for the school year. Children’s contributions to the rules allow them to have ownership of expectations within the classroom and result in a clear understanding of rights and responsibilities.

Our school has an active and effective school council who meet regularly throughout the school year. The children that make up the school council have put themselves forward for the role and have been elected by their classmates at the start of the year. The school council works in partnership with staff to make decisions about school life and consider how to improve our school and its resources.

How we influence democracy is explored through PSHE, our assembly time as well as across a range of subjects in the curriculum.

The Rule of Law:

The Duke of Bedford Primary School put emphasis on upholding the importance of laws whether they be those that govern the class, the school or the country.

From entering school in Reception children are taught the ‘rules’ of the school and particularly our school’s ‘Heart’ Values. The ‘Heart’ Values are integral to our school and are embedded into each aspect of school life. Children are taught about the values and reasons for rules and laws, that they govern, protect us and keep us safe, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Many of these rules and laws are taught through our PSHE curriculum which includes many safety aspects such as: road safety, firework safety, e-safety and fire safety.

Individual Liberty:

Here at The Duke of Bedford Primary 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 from where pupils can make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-Safety and PSHE lessons.

Mutual Respect:

Mutual Respect runs through many of our school’s ‘Heart’ Values such as, Community, Compassion, Justice and Service. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of our school community treat each other with respect.

Anti-bullying has a high profile within school and is addressed through general classroom practice, the PSHE curriculum, assemblies and outside agencies.

Children are also taught about respect and bullying in the online world also, through regular e-safety lessons.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

The Duke of Bedford Primary School is a school who welcomes pupils, parents and governors who reflect a number of different ethnicities. We promote diversity through our learning and celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Our high quality, enquiry based Religious Education curriculum provides children with opportunities to learn about beliefs, behaviours and celebrate the harmony and diversity within the religions and beliefs represented in our school and in the city of Peterborough. As well as through Religious Education lessons, our PSHE lessons and collective worship actively challenges stereotypes and reinforces messages of tolerance and respect for other no matter their ethnicity, beliefs, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or any other protected characteristics (as outlined in the 2010 Equalities Act).

We encourage members of different faiths and religions to share their knowledge and experiences to enhance learning within classes and the school. We are fortunate to have parents from range of religions who have been willing to talk to pupils about their beliefs and experiences. Trips are organised, across the school, for children to visit places of worship. Major religious festivals are acknowledged through assemblies and the RE curriculum.

At The Duke of Bedford Primary School we actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expression opinions contrary to the values we hold as a school, including ‘extremist’ views.