Promoting British Values

The Department of Education has recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, 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 the values have been reiterated by the Prime Minister this year.  At Cradley these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

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DEMOCRACY

Democracy is rife within the school.  Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and the pupil questionnaires.  The election of the School Council and Eco Committee are based solely on pupil votes.  Both of these organisations, as well as the Sports Crew, have the opportunity to influence school processes and procedures.

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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 collective worship.  Pupils are taught the reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this gives and the consequences when laws are broken.  We are a very active school and use all our sporting opportunities to reinforce the importance of laws and rules.

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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 our provision of a safe environment and empowering education.  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 how they record that challenge, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

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MUTUAL RESPECT

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy.  The teachers lead by example, respecting the pupils and other members of staff.

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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.  Trips are regularly organised to different religious places of worship to aid tolerance and visitors are invited into school to support understanding, such as Buddhist monks. We also support a school in Sierra Leone and are developing our link to a school in Tanzania.

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