At Ashfield Junior School we are committed to embedding British Values throughout our curriculum, ensuring our children are made known to them through excellent teaching and learning.
Promoting British Values at Ashfield Junior School
At Ashfield we ensure that through our school vision, values, rules and curriculum and teaching, we promote tolerance and respect for all cultures, faiths and lifestyles. We have the duty to prepare our children for life in modern Britain and to keep them safe.
We value the importance of the current DfE guidance: “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.”
The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated this year (2014). At Ashfield these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
Children are actively involved in decision making and know that their viewpoints are important. Each year the children reflect on our school values (respect, kindness, resilience and cooperation) and our school rules:
- Show Respect
- Be Safe
- Be Resilient
- Be Cooperative
- Be Safe
- Work Hard
Children are given the opportunity to vote for School Council and Eco-Warrior members along with other decisions throughout the school year.
Our School Council which meets every fortnight with their facilitator teacher to discuss issues raised in class council meetings. The council has its own budget and is genuinely able to effect change within the school. Every child on the School Council is voted in by their peers. Children are reminded about the importance of one vote and how this needs to be adhered to maintain fairness. The school councillors report back to their classes; and children vote to express their preferences when there are decisions to be made.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Ashfield. Pupils are taught the rules of the school on admission. They are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. We encourage good behaviour and reward positive behaviour through our House Point system whereby children are rewarded with a house point for following the school rules or demonstrating the school values. Children understand our behaviour ladders which details levels of negative behaviour for breaking the school rules and the linked consequence. Visits from authorities such as the Police and our Community Support Officers also help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty
At Ashfield, 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 informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. We are committed to ensuring that our children develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for the children to make choices safely.
Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms; and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our eSafety and Personal Development lessons. There is also a significant focus on their responsibilities to ensure that they are also respectful about the rights of others. They understand the importance of listening to each other and the right to be able to disagree when discussing their viewpoints.
Mutual Respect
At Ashfield a huge emphasis is placed on respecting each other while children are learning and also at play. Respect is one of our core school values and this is promoted through our curriculum and is fundamental in everything we do at Ashfield. Values such as being respectful and taking personal responsibility for actions are promoted in classes and in school assemblies. We promote respect for others, and this is reiterated through our classroom, rules, as well as our policies and home school agreement.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Ashfield serves a diverse community and this is celebrated in our curriculum, activities and commitment to ensure that experiences of all our children are valued. Differences and similarities between cultures and ethnic groups, disability and gender and family situations are discussed during class and whole school activities. Assemblies and discussions addressing prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed up and supported by learning in R.E. and PD. Children are actively encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Visitors from and visits to different religious places of worship are actively encouraged. A majority of significant festivals and religious days are observed and acknowledged and there is a programme of visits to different places of worship. Any comments deemed as intolerant are dealt with sensitively but also robustly.