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 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. At Lift St James the Great these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Children across the school are taught about democracy within lessons using the Kapow PSHE curriculum.
Children from Y2 to Y6 are encouraged to play an active part on the junior leadership team where they can influence decision-making by having a voice and sharing their views and opinions regularly. Candidates for the school council speak in front of their class, and their peers then cast their votes for who they would like to represent them. Children are expected to complete an annual questionnaire which enables them to share their views of the school and they are regularly asked in time for talk sessions with SLT what’s good and bad about school and what they’d like to change.
Each year the children decide upon their class rules and explore what being part of a community means in practice. All the children contribute to the drawing up of their class rules and agree to follow them to ensure everyone is safe and has the right to learn.
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Lift St James the Great.
Pupils are taught from an early age the rules of the school. These are our Class Rules, Playground Rules and Safety Rules. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when rules are broken.
They are also taught that when you are a responsible member of the community who follows the rules then you will succeed. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
Within school, children are actively encouraged to make decisions and choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young children to take risks and make choices safely.
Children 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 learning challenge, participation in one of our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, children are given the freedom to make choices and decisions.
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others and they need to have a constant awareness of this. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.
At Lift St James the Great we actively promote diversity, tolerance and understanding. It is crucial therefore that we explore diversity with the children, so they gain tolerance to people who are different to themselves and are understanding and respectful. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of beliefs, countries, faiths and cultures beyond our children’s experiences. Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforces this.
We always challenge prejudicial and discriminatory behaviour on an individual, class or whole school level. Children are given the opportunity to discuss the differences between people, such as faith, ethnicity, disability, gender, family differences or sexuality.
We will actively challenge children, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including those expressing extremist and radical views.
Lift St James the Great
Chapman Way,
East Malling,
E19 6SD
