British Values at Hatch Warren Junior School

Since September 2014 schools have been required to actively promote fundamental British values to meet the new Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) education standard.

What are British values?

The document “Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools” says “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”.

Promoting British values at Hatch Warren Junior School

At Hatch Warren Junior School, the importance of Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural education in developing well-rounded citizens who contribute to society and improve their communities has always been recognised and promoted. British fundamental values have always been at the heart of what we do, although in the past they may not have been explicitly labelled as such. When the term ‘British’ values is used it is important to underline that this embraces the fact that we are a nation with a proud history of people of many different ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs and secular values all living together in a plural society. Our school models this wider picture of inclusivity, freedom and equality, so our underpinning values are British to the core.

How do we promote these values?

The ways in which we achieve the requirement to promote British values are many. The document at the below indicates specifically where each of the aspects of British Values are addressed within the curriculum. 

Democracy

Democracy is embedded both in school activities and the history and purpose of democracy taught discretely through the Ancient Greek History unit. Pupils are listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and for their voices to be heard. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council and through regular questionnaires pupil conferencing. The elections of the School Council members are based primarily on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action. We will sometimes invite other representatives to join the school council to ensure that a variety of voices and opinions are able to be heard in school.

The Rule of Law

Laws and rules are important within school, whether they are those that help individuals to work effectively as a class, or laws that apply across the country, they are consistently reinforced. Our school has a set of agreed rules, which are deeply embedded in our work every day. Each class discusses these rules at the start of each year to ensure that are clearly understood by all, and seen to be necessary, to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. These are supported by the creation of class charters in each of the classes at the start of each new year. Our pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, the responsibilities that these laws bring and the consequences when laws are broken. In addition, pupils in upper school explore local councils, jobs and taxes. They also explore how most laws are made and how elections work.

Individual Liberty

Within school, 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 our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education.  Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights (linked to the UNCRC) and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our ICT E-safety lessons and are our PSHE curriculum as a whole. Children are also encouraged to make choices about the level of challenge that they complete both in and out of the classroom and on occasions how they chose to record their outcomes. Furthermore pupils are provided with a variety of opportunities to participate in varied and numerous extra- curricular activities

Individual liberty

Freedom of speech

The right to make our own choices

At school we

Use our growth mind set in our learning

Understand our responsibilities in school (various class monitor jobs)

Are encouraged to make choices

Keep ourselves safe (including e-safety)

Follow school rules and behaviour policy

Discuss ideas with our school councillors and eco-councillors

Choose the after school clubs that we wish to attend 

Mutual Respect

Pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have. Through debate and discussions pupils learn how to respect and value others opinions and how to actively voice their own views in a respectful way.

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Hatch Warren Junior School welcomes people of all backgrounds and enhances pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies, PSHE and RE study. Traditions and customs are studied in depth, with visitors being invited in to our school, and trips to enrich and extend understanding. Through this our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society.