Teaching of British Values at Healdswood

The DfE "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, and these values continue to remain high on all school agendas.  At Healdswood, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy - We all have the chance to help make decisions                

All children are encouraged to debate topics of interest, express their views and make a meaningful contribution to the running of the school on matters that directly involve pupils. 

We have a school council which meets regularly with the School Council Leaders to discuss issues raised by their peers. Two school council members are elected by their class peers and are involved in making the school a better place to learn. The school council is able to genuinely effect change within the school.

Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard through pupil questionnaires and pupil surveys that are conducted throughout the year. We know that the formation of the school council and the active participation of our pupils will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.  

The principle of democracy is explored in the curriculum as well as during assemblies and special days.

  

The Rule of Law - We all follow the rules                                                                  

Our pupils will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. We want our pupils to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the community or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to. 

The involvement of our pupils in the creation of the school rules, that are fair and reasonable, helps them to understand the reasons behind the rules and the consequences if they are broken. Pupils are taught from nursery the school agreements for the class room, playground, dinner hall and opal and they are also encouraged to be role models throughout the school. 

Children take part in simple restorative talks with adults when they have been struggling to follow the school agreements and have the opportunity to use the quiet area in the classroom if they feel they need it.

In individual classes, assemblies and our curriculum, pupils discuss our school agreements and the importance of following them. Each class will discuss a class target for the week and vote on a reward for achieving their target at the end of the week.

We have a weekly celebration assembly which celebrates children who have been following our School Agreements and following our Learning Powers.

Throughout the year we also welcome visits from members of the wider community including police, the fire brigade and many more, this helps reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty - We all have the opportunity to make our own choices

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 young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education.  Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Pupils are also encouraged to understand responsibility in school in terms of behavior and attitude to learning.

We offer a range of after school clubs which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests.
Children are supported to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence throughout their time at Healdswood, as well as during mental health week and PSHE lessons

Mutual Respect - We all respect one another 

Mutual respect is at the core of our school life. Pupils learn to treat each other and staff with great respect. This is evident when walking around the school and in the classrooms. 

We actively fundraise and take part in raising money for charity. We welcome visitors into school and like to take part in commemorative events such as Remembrance Day.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs - We all accept each other’s differences 

At Healdswood, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which a variety of different religions are studied. Our curriculum themes offer children the chance to reflect on our core values and British values.

We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others and we regularly include opportunities to learn about people from different backgrounds into our curriculum planning. Our multicultural activities illustrate our commitment to exploring our diverse school community. Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Where possible, children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths or invite visitors in.
We take part in lots of different festivals and carry out whole school activities for example Diwali, Christingle, and Eid.

Through our curriculum, school values 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.

Making British Values Meaningful in our School

 

 

 

 

We recently welcomed Lee Anderson (Local MP for Ashfield) into our school. He shared with the children all about his role in parliament and the importance of democracy and laws.  Our wonderful Year 2 children had the opportunity to share with him suggestions for how to improve your local area. The Year 2 children showed an amazing maturity and care for their community.