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Promoting British Values

OWLSMOOR PRIMARY SCHOOL

At Owlsmoor Primary School we uphold and teach pupils about the British Values as directed under Ofsted guidance, which states that the school should:

‘promote tolerance of and respect for people of all faiths (or those of no faith), cultures and lifestyles; and support and help, through their words, actions and influence within the school and more widely in the community, to prepare children and young people positively for life in modern Britain.’

The British Values are:

  • Democracy
  • The Rule of Law
  • Individual Liberty
  • Mutual Respect
  • Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

We ensure that through our school aims, agreed class charters, curriculum and teaching, we promote respect and tolerance for all cultures, faiths and lifestyles.  As educators we have a duty to prepare our children for life in the Britain of today and to keep them safe.  We value the importance of and support the current Ofsted guidance.

The promotion of modern British values and democracy is clearly evident within our school through the following:

Democracy

UN CRC Article 12: Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account.

  • We have an elected school council who represent all year groups.  In their weekly school council meetings they discuss and vote on decisions that will impact the school. The children learn about representation, its importance and meaning; how to organise the agenda and chair a meeting and the value of having a voice.
  • House Captains and Vice house Captains are elected by the children in Years 5 and 6; these children take on important and visible roles within the school community.
  • The children learn the vocabulary related to democracy such as representation, nomination and voting.
  • Democracy is taught about and discussed in PSHE lessons and assemblies.
  • Our robust history curriculum teaches how British history has helped to shape modern Britain and its values.
  • The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is taught implicitly and explicitly in all classrooms.  All Class Charters are individually created to reflect the children in the class and all are linked to the UN CRC.
  • Elected Rights Respecting Champions from every class (Y1-Y6) meet weekly to discuss ways to promote and support children’s rights locally and internationally.

The Rule of Law

UN CRC Article 19: Governments should ensure that children are properly cared for, and protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by their parents, or anyone else who looks after them.

  • We have high expectations of pupil conduct, reflected in our Behaviour Policy and which is clearly evident to visitors of the school.
  • We have a clear behaviour protocols in place,that are followed by all members of staff from teacher to support staff and midday supervisors.  The children understand the procedures in place, and what will be the consequences of their actions.
  • A key part of our Behaviour Policy is allowing children time and opportunity to reflect upon their behaviour, what they need to do to change their behaviour in future and to whom, if appropriate, they need to apologise.
  • Through the Class Charters and PSHE lessons, children are taught to know right from wrong, how to keep themselves safe and to do the right thing, even when it is difficult.
  • Local police officers/PCSO regularly visit the school to talk to children about the reasons behind rules and laws and the consequences if they are broken; if specific issues arise we arrange for visits by the police to talk to the relevant year groups on the topic at hand – for example with regard to using social media responsibly and legally.
  • Visits from other authorities such as the Road Safety Team, Fire Service and Ambulance are regular features in our calendar and help reinforce the message of the consequences if rules are broken.
  • We have visits from the local authority who have held workshops on domestic violence with KS2.
  • When relevant we work closely with the local authority about specific behaviour concerns such as the Behaviour Support team and Youth offending prevention officers.

Individual Liberty

UN CRC Article 31: All children have a right to relax and play, and to join a wide range of activities.

UN CRC Article 15:  Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights

  • Through assemblies and PSHE sessions, children are taught about personal responsibility, choices, ambition and aspiration.
  • Children throughout the school are encouraged to make independent decisions, for example in choice of lunch and playground.
  • We offer a range of clubs for all ages to allow children to have the opportunity to follow their interests in art, music, sport and so on.  For those children who are Pupil Premium we often provide financial support to allow them to join clubs outside of school, such as badminton or Brownies.
  • Through the PSHE and computing curriculum, as well as through visits from the police, road safety and cycling organisations, children are taught how to keep themselves safe in the physical and online world. 
  • We actively participate in anti-bullying week – which we name ‘Friendship Week’ – with activities in all classes.

Mutual Respect

UN CRC Article 2: The Convention applies to everyone, whatever their race, religion, abilities, whatever they think or say and whatever type of family they come from.

UN CRC Article 30: Children have a right to learn and use the language and customs of their families, whether these are shared by the majority of people in the country or not.

  • We have high expectations about pupil conduct and this is reflected in our behaviour Policy and Equal Opportunities Policy.
  • Children are awarded raffle tickets for behaving in kind, respectful and a polite way at play times.  They earn House Points and tokens for behaviour as well as for effort and achievement.
  • Through their personalised class charters, PSHE lessons and assemblies children are taught and given opportunity to develop their understanding of the importance of cooperation, collaboration and to be supportive, understanding and appreciative of difference.  Children also learn this through PE lessons with our dedicated PE teacher.
  • We have Rights Respecting Champions from all year groups who have weekly meetings to discuss how the school can develop as a Rights Respecting School.
  • Play leaders from Year 5 receive training to support the play of children from KS1.
  • One dedicated assembly per week minimum to promote the UN CRC through stories and discussion.

Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs

UN CRC Article 14: Children have the right to think and believe what they want, and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights.  Parents should guide their children on these matters.

  • Our Equal opportunities clearly states our view on the importance of respecting difference in whatever form that difference might take.
  • Education, understanding and awareness of different faiths and beliefs is fundamentally important to us and, with this in mind, the school funds visits to the local church, a mosque, synagogue and Mandir.  Tolerance and understanding is also taught and promoted through the Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. 
  • Class, key stage and whole school assemblies also promote tolerance and we have regular visits from local religious leaders. 
  • Significant religious festivals such as Diwali and Ramadan are learned about and celebrated, and talks have been given by staff and parents from different faiths.