British Values

British Values

Aims and Objectives

Our curiculum follows the Government requirements 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."

Throughout the academic year, the British values are being explored by staff and pupils alike, looking at the values in wider society but, more importantly, seeing the role they have in our lives, and the role we play in upstanding the principles of the values.

Through much of what we do, we are exploring the key questions of 'What does it mean to be British?

We develop a focus of inquiry with children encouraging them to:

• recognise the role they play in our democratic society, and what responsibilities this facilitates
• recognise different identities and experiences, and appreciate that identity consists of many factors
• appreciate the reason for rules and how they impact upon us
• recognise that each person’s identity is unique and can change
• begin to understand the idea of stereotypes

Teaching and Learning

At Southborough, we explore the values weekly, giving children the opportunities for rich discussion and to further broaden their understanding of the values. We enrich this further with exploration of significant events which the values can be linked to, and wherever possible, put the values into action within our school diet.

Democracy:

Democracy is alive within our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through golden break, golden lunch, pupil questionnaires and class discussions. 

Election day:

The Junior hall was set up as a polling station, and throughout the afternoon, every child in every class got their chance to cast their vote for who they wanted on our school prefect team. An exciting democractic journey was had by all!

"It was really good to have a say about something going on in our school and for a decision not to be made for us."

"It is scary to think what it would be like if we didn't have democracy!" 

The Rule of Law:

The Rule of Law is extremely prominent; day to day we follow rules which keep us safe and protect our well-being . Pupils know when to put hands up and listen to others, and to keep unkind words to ourselves.

Children also know that when they leave school at the end of the day, there are laws and rules in place to protect them from harm, and keep our society safe.

"Laws are important as they keep us safe- it is important to follow them."

"Without laws, there would be chaos!"

Individual Liberty:

Individual Liberty is all about us being actively encouraged to make choices in a safe and supportive environment. Children know they can exercise their rights and personal freedoms, and talk about many issues through our E-safety and PHSE lessons. They are given many choices in school and have a strong pupil voice.

"We all have the right to speak our mind- that is individual liberty in a democracy."

"I think it is important that we listen to each other, and what they think, because it could help us make up our own minds."

Mutual Respect:

In our school, we all know what it means to show 'respect'. Children often talk about showing respect to each other and adults, and know they should show respect outside of school, whether in sporting competitions, or to people they meet in the wider community. Children also promote respect for others in our school, which is reiterated through our classroom and school rules.

"It is important to respect each other- we are all different, and that is what makes us unique!"

"I get on well with my friends because we are different and that is good- we like similiar stuff but can still have our differences and be friends."

Tolerance of those with different faiths:

We talk about treating those with different faiths and beliefs in the same way as we would want to be treated ourselves. We understand that we live in a culturally diverse society, and through different lessons and assemblies, we focus on prejudices; we encourage members of different faiths and beliefs to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

"We learn about different religions in RE, which is good because then we can understand people of those faiths."

"I find it exciting to learn about different cultures and how they are all different from us- but it is also good to see what we all share as well."

Assessment and Recording

Although much of the British values learning is developed through rich discussions, children may at times record some thoughts in their curriculum book, whether discreetly or included as part of another curriculum area. Further to this, many examples of children's involvement with the values will be recorded within the children's class RE book and their blue exercise books, providing pictorial and written evidence of every child's inclusion within the British values learning.

Inclusion

In-line with Southborough's SEN policy and ethos, British value lessons and activities are designed and planned to include all children through a range of approaches such as inclusive questioning. Furthermore, lessons are planned to facilitate the learning of children at all attainment ranges within each class.

Courageous Advocacy

Click on the link below to find out about Courageous Advocacy at Southborough CE Primary School:

Courageous Advocacy

The Christian Gospel says that every person has a unique task to do, with God, and for God, whether they know it or not. We hold and courageously advocate the conviction that there is something mysterious, and potentially wonderful, in everybody.

How does Southborough C of E Primary School’s Christian vision support the character and moral development of all pupils, giving them aspiration for themselves and hope for the communities of which they are a part of?

How well does our Christian vision inspire the whole school community to engage in social action and to be courageous advocates for change in their local, national and global communities?

"In partnership with the Church of England’s Education Office, we want to encourage a deeper understanding of global injustice and the Christian response to it in primary school pupils across England."

(christianaid.org.uk, 2019)

At Southborough C of E Primary School, we are courageous advocates in what is best for members of our community, locally and nationally.

We understand that life can be challenging at times and that all people, including friends, family and global citizens will face difficulties that they need help to persevere with in order to overcome them. To ensure that we and our community Give, Inspire and Flourish Together we have been and are supportive of a range of charities in our local area, nationally and globally.

Within the community our school is a beacon of light that stands up for what it believes in. Our Christian Values (Hope, Peace, Joy, Forgiveness, Perseverance and Compassion) and British Values (Rule of Law, Tolerance, Democracy, Mutual Respect and Individual Liberty) ensure that opportunities to discuss current world issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present. Such as:

• D-Day
• Political and Brexit: Democracy.
• Holocaust Memorial Day.
• Zero Discrimination Day.
• National Storytelling Week.
• Equality: International Women’s Day.
• WW1 Centenary – Mutual Respect and Peace Remembrance activity.
• Digital Guardians.
• Yr R recycling carrier bags and writing to remove plastic straws from milk cartons.
• Collective Worship planning.
• Staff Briefings with Prayers and British Value highlights – current world issues and historic events.
• Odd Socks Day.
• 40 Days of Lent.

We have a long tradition of supporting charities at Southborough. We aim to inspire courageous advocacy and instil our Christian Values in the whole Southborough community this includes participating in, as well as organising, fundraising to benefit a wide range of causes, including locally, nationally and globally.  Some of these include:

• Bloodwise 5K Run – Staff.
• Anthony Nolan – Marathon (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamCharlie-JonKersey), Weekly Raffle, Staff VS. Children Football Tournament.
• NSPCC
• Comic Relief
• Children in Need
• British Heart Foundation
• Own clothes day – For Charlie (Red clothes for his football team).
• Kent High Weald Partnership - Smarties Challenge
• Kent and Sussex Air Ambulance
• The Purple Community Fund: Ringpull Collection – supporting schools and communities in the Philippines.
• Education for Life – Supporting Tumaini School, Mombasa, Kenya.
• Kenya Children’s Trust – Support Gataka School, Nairobi, Kenya. (Donating uniform, 20p for a lunch.)
• Beanstalk – Reading Dogs Charity
• The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
• Harvest Festival Food Donations.