Promoting British Values
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.”
At Dinglewell Junior School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways.
Democracy at Dinglewell Junior School
Each year the children decide upon their class rules and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of these rules and they are displayed in each classroom.
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets weekly to discuss issues raised in classes or events (charity) that they would like to lead on. The council has its own budget and is able to genuinely effect change within the school. Two of the council members for each year group are voted in by their class.
The children in Year 6 have an opportunity to become the Chair and Vice Chair of our school council. Each year the children who would like to be elected as run an election campaign. This involves producing their own manifesto and talking to the children about the reasons why they should be elected and what they would do for the school if they were voted in. We then hold a democratic election, where each child is able to vote for our Chair and Vice Chair of our school council.
We also have pupil conferences which sometimes include a Governor and any findings are fed back to staff.
The Rule of Law
Dinglewell Junior School has very clear whole school Values that are displayed around school and on our school website. The importance of Law, whether it is in the class, the school, or the country, is consistently reinforced by all staff throughout the school day and during assemblies. Our school has a robust behaviour system and these laws are reinforced when dealing with behaviour. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty
We invest a lot of time in creating a positive culture in our school, so children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Through our E-safety, and PSHE sessions, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely.
Mutual Respect
Our ethos and behaviour policy revolve around our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Honesty, Co-operation, Resilience. Pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown.
Images around the school promote all of our school values including respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
At Dinglewell we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in PSHE. Through our RE curriculum, which teaches the main faiths and focuses upon learning about religion and learning from religion, we promote tolerance of the beliefs of others. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.
At Dinglewell Junior School we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.