British Values

British Values Statement

The DfE have 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 these five British values in the ‘Prevent Strategy’ and emphasises that they are taught in all UK schools.

Dry Drayton Primary School is committed to serving its community and surrounding areas. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom, and therefore those it serves. It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.

The school accepts admissions from all those entitled to an education under British Law, including pupils of all faiths or none. It follows the policies outlined by its governing body regarding equal opportunities, which guarantee that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, political or financial status, or similar. It seeks to serve all.

We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and, in particular, our RE and PSHE lessons provide excellent opportunities to deepen and develop understanding. Children embrace these concepts with enthusiasm and demonstrate a good understanding of their application to their own lives.

The school makes considerable efforts to ensure children have exposure to a wide experience beyond their local community during which these concepts are shown. Sporting events, a range of visits and use of outdoor education centres are planned to ensure children’s experiences are broad, meaningful and varied. Their strong rooted values-based understanding gives them an excellent platform for embracing difference.

Democracy

Democracy is an integral part of school life where the promotion of democratic processes, fostering the concept and application of freedom of speech and group action to address needs and concerns, are heard through our School and Class Councils, pupil voice, whole school voting on changes or policies and discussion to form the school motto. The election of School Council members is based on pupil votes. Children also agree a Class Charter at the beginning of each year where all children contribute to its drawing up. Pupils are taught to respect the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We encourage children to take  ownership of not only their school but their own learning and progress and responding to feedback.

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 managing behaviour and through daily collective worship. The values of rights and responsibilities are used to help children understand the importance of laws. Pupils are taught the values and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. This also helped to inform the whole school review and creation of our Positive Behaviour Policy.

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 safely, through 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. Pupils are given the opportunity to consider how their future career choices can be enhanced by their educational choices. There are visits and visitors planned to help inspire pupils to broaden their horizons for example to museums, theatre and local industries. Year 5 attend a careers fair organised by the CB23 group of schools. Whether it be through choice of which challenge to choose in a lesson, of how they record an answer of challenge, of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect

Our school ethos and Positive Behaviour Policy are based on our Values. One of our six Values is the right to be treated with respect and the responsibility to treat others with respect. Our use of restorative approaches to promote positive behaviour enables children to have their voices heard and make informed choices. Posters in classrooms remind children or their Class Charter and our Positive Behaviour Policy listing what we all consider to be good behaviour. Additional support is provided for individual pupils, through intervention groups. This support helps to develop self-esteem and to practise strategies pupils can employ to help improve their respect for and interaction with others. The concept of ‘fair play’, being generous in defeat and participation in activities that promote kinship and positive relationships with others are actively promoted in school.

Understanding of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Dry Drayton Primary School enhances pupils’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through celebrating our cultural diversity and understanding their place in a culturally rich and diverse society. They are provided with opportunities to experience such diversity within our curriculum, including visits to different places of worship and celebration of religious festivals, and through reading a wide range of texts from other cultures. As a church school, collective worship is fundamentally Christian in character, but recognises that those attending may have a wide range of faiths, or none. We use Understanding Christianity and The Emmanuel Project to deliver RE which includes teaching about Christianity and world religions.

Reviewed annually