Promoting British Values at Cheadle Primary School

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 Cheadle Primary School we ensure that we teach our children that society in Britain is diverse and therefore our curriculum, ethos and values reflect this.
Our school motto to ‘Be proud of yourself, your school and your achievements’ is central to our values. We are determined to be truthful and proud of ourselves and others, we will try our best to make the right decisions and we will be respectful and proud of our school and the people in it.
These important values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

‘respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process’.

• Children learn how they can influence decision making through the democratic process. This can be seen through the election process and work in both the School Council and Eco Warrior Club. Children have the opportunity to have their voice heard and are involved in the decision making processes of the school. The council is genuinely able to effect change within our school.

• Through the annual pupil questionnaire, children’s opinion is respected and we act upon the information received.

• Both our PSHCE and SEAL curriculum encourage all aspects of respect for democracy and the democratic process. In Key Stage Two, each House team elects a House Captain and a Vice Captain who work hard on behalf of their team throughout the year.

• Individual children are appointed to posts of responsibility both in the classroom such as classroom monitors, librarians and cloakroom officers and across the school such as office duties and assembly monitors.

The Rule of Law

‘respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England’ and ‘support for equality of opportunity for all’.

• The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Cheadle Primary School. Pupils are taught the rules from an early age in the Foundation Stage. Each class and Key Stage have an agreed set of rules and a class charter contract on which the children have all been consulted.

• The children are aware of the consequences of not following the rules in their school community. The children learn to understand the difference between right and wrong in all aspects of school life throughout the day.

• Children are given opportunity to understand aspects of civil and criminal law and discuss how this might be different from some religious laws.

• Pupils in our school expect and receive a fair system where actions are always respectfully justified. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws; that they exist to govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

• Children are given the opportunity to meet with local agencies e.g. fire service and police so that they are valued and respected.

Individual Liberty

‘support and respect for the liberties of all within the law’.

• At Cheadle Primary School our 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 informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education.

• Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely. We ensure that children have the right to hold personal beliefs and are not pressurised to compromise these.

• The school is actively involved in supporting Anti-Bullying week and have provided information to parents to support them in understanding bullying and how to work with the school. The school is currently working towards achieving the Staffordshire Anti Bullying Pledge.

• Our children are encouraged to give their opinions and share these ideas with due regard for the feelings of others. As part of our PSHCE curriculum we place a huge emphasis on the social and emotional learning of our children and feel we send them off to secondary school as well rounded, happy, safe and secure individuals.

• We celebrate achievements both in and out of school through certificates and assemblies. All of the children have access to the in-house Family Support Worker (FSW) when necessary. This helps the children access support in a confidential and supportive way.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

‘respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs’.

• Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

• Tolerance is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity.

• We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Assemblies, Religious Education lessons and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others.

• Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

• The children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. Throughout school life the children are encouraged to discuss differences between people such as their faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality. They also discuss differences in family life such as looked after children or young carers.

British Traditions and Heritage

We celebrate the role of Britain both historically and in the present. We want pupils to have knowledge of and be proud of their British heritage and the cultural and historical traditions that we are renowned for the world over. This involves celebrating Royal events, Remembrance Day, Commonwealth Day festivals such as Harvest, Christmas, Easter (alongside those from other cultures such as Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year, for example). We visit the local church to mark the Christmas celebration, we share in donations with our local community at Harvest time and actively work with nearby organisations and charities such as Home Link and local homes for the elderly. We use the local area to support our learning and visit the local Tudor Buildings and participate in trips to Stoke-on-Trent, the heart of the Pottery making Industry. The children visit places of cultural significance such as our capital city - London and the curriculum is shaped to include as much British heritage as we can.

We work tirelessly to build a culture that will stand the test of time, where our pupils can become good, effective citizens. We teach our children to respect everyone regardless of any differences.

We have extremely high aspirations for every one of our children, together, as a school community, in partnership with parents, carers and all who have the well-being of the child at heart.