Promoting British Values at St Andrew's

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 and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

In Collective Worship, our children have been thinking about British Values mean to us at St Andrew’s. Please click here to see their thoughts.

British values at St Andrew’s

At St Andrew’s, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

• Children are involved in democratic processes e.g. voting for school councillors, food councillors, eco councillors, worship council members and house captains.
• Applications for these posts (except house captains which is Year 6 only) are welcomed from all children. In Key Stage Two, applications are accompanied by a ‘seconder’ who needs to peer support the application. Presentations are given, followed by a vote by sealed ballot.
• The school council is led by a member of staff who adheres to democratic processes.
• Children across school have many opportunities to make key decisions, such as planning class assemblies and productions.
• Each class agrees their own classroom rules, the process for which clearly teaches democratic processes and cooperation.
• Children in a number of classes have opportunity to write to key political figures (e.g. Year 2 writing to David Cameron about environmental issues in July 2015)
• We have links to the local PCSOs who come into school to educate the children about upholding British law and the prosecution service.
• Our oldest children study how the monarchy has changed as part of a history project, from the feudal system to today’s constitutional monarchy.

The Rule of Law

• We have links with the local police through the PCSO programme.
• We have a clearly structured behaviour policy which all stakeholders understand and follow.
• We regularly review behaviour incidents in school and share these with key stakeholders.
• Assemblies are delivered with a focus on the law e.g. Safety Awareness and E-safety.
• We visit the National Galleries of Justice each year, where children have opportunity to participate in mock trial.
• Our oldest children study the Magna Carter, and the changes over time to the rule of law to which we are all subject.

Individual Liberty

• Children have key roles and responsibilities in school, such as children in Key Stage 2 who take on the roles of Librarians, Sports Ambassadors, Eco Team and Playground leaders.
• Within school, children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
• As appropriate, children are given the opportunity to organise their own work schedules.
• Through our extra-curricular activities children are given the freedom to make choices.
• Residential visits in Years 4 and 6 give children the space and freedom to manage their free time productively, the skills from which are then utilised well across school.
• Our curriculum, in particular SEAL and PSHE, encourage children to consider freedom of choice.

Mutual Respect

• Our SEAL and PSHE curriculum focusing on values of mutual respect through units of learning such as relationships and being a responsible citizen.
• Respect is embedded within our whole school Rules of St Andrews which children and staff devised together.
• Year 6 children have clearly defined responsibilities as role models. They are required to consistently model appropriate behaviours and attitudes to the rest of the school.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

• Our RE curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. This understanding is underpinned by respect for the beliefs of others.
• We have stakeholders who have close links with people from other countries and visitors from other faiths who share their language and culture with our pupils.
• We have gained the International Schools Award and have links with other schools overseas.
• We regularly celebrate Festivals and Celebrations of a range of faiths during curriculum time.
• Our Year 6 children have opportunity to participate in a Rotary Club award. A key part of this is to share, engage and meet up with people of different faith communities.