British Values 🇬🇧

Promoting Fundamental British Values

In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

Our school's core values of being POSITIVE, AMBITIOUS, RESILIENT and KIND work in harmony with our British Values, and through our work on developing both aspects of children's personal values-set, we encourage pupils to consider them together.

Our assembly themes are regularly linked to British Values and can be found here.

The Key British Values are:

  • Democracy

  • Rule of law

  • Individual Liberty (Aim High, Do the Right Thing)

  • Mutual respect

  • Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

At Parkfield we actively promote British Values through

  • Challenging pupils, staff or parents who express opinions contrary to British values.

  • Modelling values through what we say and do.

  • Teaching British Values explicitly and implicitly through our curriculum and Collective Worship.

Democracy – what do we do?

  • Hold regular democratic elections for our Pupil voice groups (e.g. school and eco council)

  • Teach children about the democratic process during election time - particularly as the school is used as a polling station

  • 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.

  • Include in the curriculum information on the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain.

  • Teach pupils the history of democracy, such as through Year 4 topic on Ancient Greece

  • Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school, such as through the School Council.

  • Hold ‘mock elections’ so pupils learn how to argue and defend points of view (KS2).

  • Help pupils to express their views, including through Circle Time.

  • Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged.

  • Democracy is shown through history topics such as the Vikings and Saxons.

  • Circle Time and discussion groups.

Rule of Law – what do we do?

  • Ensure school values and expectations are clear and fair.

  • Classroom Code of Conduct, linked to our school's core values.

  • Use of praise and reward to promote positive consequences.

  • Use of sanctions to encourage pupils to take ownership of own behaviour.

  • 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.

  • Include visits from the police across the year.

  • Teach pupils aspects of both civil and criminal law and discuss how this might differ from some religious laws (Year 6)

Individual Liberty – what do we do?

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

  • Strong focus on pupils developing own self-discipline by replacing rules with values - supporting children to adopt them independently.

  • 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

  • E-Safety lessons through school.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance – what do we do?

  • Promote respect for individual differences.

  • Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life, particularly through RE curriculum

  • Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

  • Organise regular visits to places of worship.

  • Develop links with faith and other communities through RE and working alongside children and their families.

  • Learning to disagree in a respectful way.

  • Develop critical personal thinking skills.

  • Link with local schools that have different demographic to ourselves.