British Values at Ingleby Mill Primary School

At Ingleby Mill we uphold and teach pupils about British Values defined as:

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual respect
  • Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

These values are taught explicitly through our curriculum and through subjects such as Personal, Social, Health and Emotional (PSHE), and Religious Education (RE).

Our school actively promotes British Values through acts of collective worship and whole school systems and structures, such as electing and running a successful school council.  We also actively promote British Values by ensuring that our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values.

British values are encapsulated in our school vision and through our school ethos and curriculum.  Activities that support the promotion of British values include celebrating and marking great and significant British events, such as commemorating World War 1, VE Day and the Olympic Games.

Democracy

School Councillors members are elected by their classmates and promote pupil voice through the work of the school council.

The ethos in every classroom supports children expressing their preferences and making democratic decisions (which books to read, which group to work with, how to organise displays).

Pupil Voice surveys and community consultation inform school improvement actions e.g. in the September 2016 pupil survey, children in years 5 and 6 said that they would like doors fitted to their open plan classrooms. This view was reinforced by teachers in years 5 and 6 in the September 2016 staff survey. Doors were fitted to the classrooms in years 5 and 6 in December 2016. Pupils report that it is much easier to concentrate. Staff report that pupils get more work done.

The Rule of Law

We have a school motto which is clearly displayed around school and which all children understand as a guiding principal in school:

Imagine
Make a difference
Persevere
Succeed

School rules are clear and fair and are reinforced throughout the school day by everyone. The rules help children to distinguish right from wrong and to develop an understanding of consequences for their actions.

Children are taught the values and reasons behind the school rules; that they are to govern and protect everyone to ensure people are safe from hurt or harm. Children are taught that there are consequences when rules (laws) are broken.

We have a consistent behaviour code in school with staged responses to inappropriate behaviour. Children are asked to identify which aspect of the rules they have not upheld and explain how they can alter their actions to stay within our code of conduct. Our curriculum teaches children about the importance of staying within agreed boundaries and the consequences of breaking these boundaries (Foundation Stage PSED Managing Feelings and through the PSHCE curriculum).

Visits from authorities such as the police and fire service to promote an understanding of the job and role of those with responsibility in the community.

Individual Liberty

The ethos that supports children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and selfconfidence is embedded in our values.

We expect through our consistent behaviour code that children take responsibility for their behaviour as well as knowing their rights.

Children are given freedom to make choices in numerous aspects of daily school life e.g. choice of learning activity, method of recording, participation in extra-curricular activities.

Children are taught that they have a right to be free from victimisation through our anti-bullying culture and expectations.

Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, for example through our work on e-safety and PSHE lessons.

Children are taught about the importance of individual liberty and the impact of the loss of this liberty on communities, societies and countries through our history and RE curriculum particularly, for example through the study of World War 2, the role of inequality in different cultures and countries and the freedom to express personal beliefs and faith practices.

Children are taught to have compassion and consideration for individuals and groups who suffer as a result of circumstances that affect their individual liberty through charitable fundraising for organisations such as the British Legion, Children in Need, Comic Relief and a local charity,

Daisy Chain. Children also bring a Friday penny to help us to sponsor a child’s education through Plan International.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the heart of all we do at Ingleby Mill. Children learn that behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others.  There is an expectation that all members of the school community treat each other with respect and this is actively modelled by all adults in school.

Children are taught to celebrate the achievements of others and respect differences in talents, abilities and skills. There is an ethos of high praise in school where children’s efforts are rewarded publicly in assemblies, by being awarded a ‘Marvellous Me’ badge which is sent home via an online app, by the giving of stickers, IMPS reward points or certificates and children are sent to other staff in school for further praise and celebration.

Children are taught to identify and challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour through our curriculum and the ethos which underpins all that we do. In May 2017 we took advantage of support from a local group ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ who came to work with our older children around issues of racism. The group facilitators commented afterwards at the maturity and depth of discussion from our children.

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Our RE curriculum teaches children in school about the beliefs and practices of different faiths and emphasises the need to be accepting and open to systems and practices that are different to their own. Children learn about different countries, cultures and traditions through our geography, history and PSHCE curriculum. We also seek to provide a window into the wider world through discussion of current affairs and news, through visits and visitors.

We have an assembly themes calendar which is values driven and highlights opportunities to refer to world faiths and beliefs.

We have an equal opportunities policy which reinforces a non-discriminatory approach ie ‘We do not discriminate against anyone be they staff, pupil or parent, on the grounds of ethnicity, religion, attainment, age, disability, gender or background’.

Our strong anti-bullying culture enforces an expectation that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of any differences in faith, ethnicity, gender, disability or orientation.