British Values at Junction Farm

In line with the Department for Education document: Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools, department advice for maintained schools, November 2014. At Junction Farm Primary School, we have a strong and organic culture weaved through everything that we do. We embrace and support the diversity of all at Junction Farm and believe that we support and guide our children to become independent, open-minded and well-rounded citizens of tomorrow.

The DfE states that:

“Schools should 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”.

At Junction Farm Primary School, we reflect these ideals though all aspects of school life. We aim to support our children so that they can grow into Safe, Thoughtful, Adventurous, Respectful and Successful adults, ready to make their contribution to British society and the wider world.

What is meant by ‘British Values?’

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual respect and tolerance

How can we prepare our children for adult life as citizens of Britain?

  • Enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.
  • Enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England.
  • Encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely.
  • Enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England.
  • Further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
  • Encourage respect for other people.
  • Encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

Examples of how Junction Farm Primary School develop our children’s understanding of British Values:

Democracy:

  • Teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process – e.g. through the work of our ‘Rights Rulers.’
  • Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school – again through the work of Rights Rulers and their sessions with their own classes.
  • Help pupils to respectfully express their views e.g. through English lessons and opportunities to present work and opinions.
  • Ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair e.g. by discussing these with pupils; establishing classroom rules with the pupils; and displaying class charters clearly in classrooms.
  • Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made e.g. by showing how rules help everyone to interact in an orderly and fair manner and protect the vulnerable in society. This is done both in and around school and through PHSE taught sessions.
  • Include visits from the police in the curriculum e.g. have sessions with the Community Police Officers, visits from the Fire Service. Develop approaches focused on fairness and justice to resolve conflicts e.g. as part of sanctions in our approach to behaviour.
  • Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence e.g. through all areas of teaching and learning in school. Our powerful PHSE curriculum ‘Jigsaw’ ensures that there is a focus on mental health in every (weekly) session.
  • Challenge stereotypes e.g. through PHSE, Assemblies and within others subjects.
  • Promote respect for individual differences in all areas of learning and interaction.
  • Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour e.g. through whole school expectations, ‘STARS system,’ PHSE lessons and behaviour strategies.
  • Develop critical personal thinking skills woven throughout our curricular work.
  • Discuss differences between people, such as differences of family situations, such as looked-after children or young carers e.g. through our PSHE and broader curricular work and through visitors to school sharing their experiences.
  • Organise visits to places of worship e.g. visits to the local churches and other diverse places of worship, as appropriate to the curriculum.
  • Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life e.g. through our Religious Education curriculum and PSHE.

Rule of Law:

  • A strong school understanding of human and children rights through assemblies in conjunction with UNICEF rights of a child.
  • Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged e.g. through our interactions with pupils and the school’s behaviour system and discussing scenarios in Collective Worship and Circle Times.
  • Hold ‘mock elections’ so pupils learn how to argue and defend points of view e.g. when electing representatives to the School Right Council for each class and when appointing ‘Buddies’ to work in school.
  • Include in the curriculum information on the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain – e.g. when considering periods of history where democracy was not as fully developed as it is now.
  • Provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for public institutions and services through discussing these whenever appropriate in curriculum work including external visits from: NSPCC, police, fire service etc.
  • ‘STARS system,’ including warnings and then reflection on poor choices.

Individual Liberty:

  • Ensure Class Charter and Rules are displayed in classrooms and discussed regularly.
  • Teach pupils aspects of both civil and criminal law and discuss how this might differ from some religious laws through both RE and PHSE curriculum and assembly/circle time.
  • Provide a wide ranging extra curricula curriculum.
  • Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals
  • Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong e.g. during everyday interactions and discussions of stories, fables and other literary materials through discussion in RE, English and other subjects.

Respect and Tolerance:

  • Implement a strong anti-bullying culture – as enshrined in our policies for Anti-Bullying, behaviour and PHSE lessons.
  • Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights e.g. through all of their interaction with adults and each other in school, following ‘Right Respecting Schools ‘programme and in PHSE curriculum.
  • Celebrating many British festivals and world events e.g. Remembrance Day, November 5th, Easter, Children in need, World Book Day etc
  • Community visits local visits: High street visits, park visits, local tree lighting ceremony et
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