British Values at St Paul's

At St Paul's CofE Primary School, we are committed to working with our families and the wider local community to ensure that multi- cultural, multi faith and the ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom is understood and valued. We will teach all children about ‘fundamental British values’ in an age-appropriate way through a broad and balanced curriculum and also through the examples set by all members of staff. The British Values are: Democracy, The Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect, Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. 

We actively promote British values through:

Focusing on and showing how the school’s work is effective in securing these values.

British values are typically taught across a number of subjects, including history, English, and personal, social, health, and economic (PSHE) education. This could include learning about the development of democracy in the UK, or about the struggles and achievements of different groups within British society in history lessons. In PSHE lessons, students may learn about the role and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy, or about how to participate in the democratic process. They may learn about the importance of mutual respect and tolerance, and how to communicate and resolve conflicts in a respectful manner.

Democracy – what do we do?

• Class voting for the election of school councillors, eco-captain and prefects at the start of the year;

• Annual school wide campaign and election for our house captains;

• Provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services;

• Teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process;

• Taught through assemblies and our school curriculum;

• Teach a dedicated topic on the civil rights movement (protests and politics) in Year 5 

• Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school through pupil voices;

• Help pupils to express their views;

• Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged;

Rule of law – what do we do?

• Ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair;

• Class rules and celebration of adhering to these rules through merit assemblies;

• Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong;

• Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made;

• Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals;

• Explore within our Personal Development Lessons laws and what to do if peer pressure is trying to persuade children to break these;

• Annual visit from police to numerous year groups.

Individual liberty – what do we do?

• Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem, self-confidence;

• Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights;

• Model freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils and promoting critical analysis of evidence

• Challenge stereotypes;

• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture;

• Children in Year 6 are given key roles and responsibilities such as Playground leaders, Playground Buddies, Reading Buddies, Sports ambassadors and Prefects.

• E-Safety units of work are taught throughout school and parents and staff receive training on these.

Mutual Respect and tolerance of different cultures and religions– what do we do?

• Have termly ‘Cultural Awareness Days’ where we learn about and celebrate different cultures;

• Diversity and Inclusion workshops to promote respect for individual differences and to actively challenge stereotypes;

• Use assemblies and Newsround to explore critical news events (e.g. terrorist attacks, Black Lives Matter etc);

• Explore positive role models (where possible) through our topics who reflect the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act;

• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour;

• Organise visits to places of worship;

• Our RE scheme ensures that our children have a good understanding of a range of religious beliefs and customs;

• Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life;