British Values
At Hackthorn CofE Primary, we value the diverse backgrounds of all pupils, staff and families and undertake a variety of events and lessons to celebrate these throughout the year. We teach our children to be tolerant and respectful towards others, embracing the differences in our community and the wider world. Within this, we recognise the importance of promoting fundamental ‘British Values’ as part of our school’s programme of spiritual, moral, cultural and social development.
These include the values of:
- Democracy
- The Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
At Hackthorn, we recognise that such development is most successful when those values and attitudes are promoted by all the staff and provide a model of behaviour for our pupils.
How do we promote British Values at Hackthorn CofE Primary
Democracy:
The ability to communicate is the most important area of learning. At Hackthorn CofE Primary School we ensure that pupils are given a ‘voice’ to communicate. The method of using this ‘voice’ could be using words, objects, photographs, pictures, symbols, touch cues, eye pointing or body language. We empower our pupils by giving them opportunities to make choices about the things that they believe to be important. By valuing each ‘voice’ and by listening and responding to that voice we demonstrate that we support democracy and liberty.
Specific ways we teach democracy in school are:
- Children given the opportunity to stand to be a school council member / on the collective worship council
- Whole school vote at the ‘polling station’ for the children they would like to be on school council.
- School council assembly linked to the value of democracy – see evidence in worship book
- Pupils are involved in recruitment interviews – e.g. Headteacher interview
- Worries, wants and wishes box on the reflection table.
- School council take children’s suggestions and take these to staff to see if they can be implemented
- Children choose their own reading books, what toy boxes (from the colours they want to play with), what playtime games
- Children given chance to demonstrate their ideas and others can support them e.g. Raising money for Children with Cancer UK.
- Regular parent voice surveys – vision and values / parent view questionnaire (Summer 2024)
- Regular parent meetings
- Staff have a voice
Rule of Law:
We involve pupils in setting codes of behaviour; helping pupils to make decisions and choices that are acceptable to the school community and society at large. Pupils are helped to learn to manage their behaviour and take responsibility for their actions. Staff are committed to providing a consistent and enriched learning environment within the school and beyond. We help pupils to understand the connection between actions and consequences. This type of environment enables pupils to feel safe and secure; this in turn, promotes the optimum conditions for learning to take place.
- Clear Christian vision and values that we live by in school.
- Behaviour policy.
- Children taught through age/stage appropriate discussions right from wrong – taking turns, apologising etc.
- Children participate in bike ability in KS2 every other year, other workshops e.g. road safety for KS1, police visit in KS1.
- Staff have appropriate and up to date safeguarding training and understand this in practice.
- Children have many opportunities to play games during PE, extra-curricular activities and inter-school sporting competitions – our children play fairly and by the rules.
- Child referee during football matches at lunch times.
- Staff follow the code of conduct and behave in a respectful manner to all.
Individual Liberty:
Pupils at Hackthorn CofE Primary are encouraged to become good and valued citizens. We do this by supporting each pupil to become as independent as possible. We endeavour to demonstrate that everyone has rights; this includes the right to say ‘No’ to ideas or activities that they do not want to take part in. Some pupils will be able to take responsibility for particular roles and to understand that with certain rights comes a level of responsibility. Learning to do things independently is an important part of learning to understand yourself. We support others by participating in charitable events such as Red Nose Day/Comic Relief, Children in Need and the distribution of food through foodbank. At Hackthorn Primary we believe that by engendering a caring and helpful environment and by learning to be independent can boost and nurture a healthy self-esteem.
- Children are listened to daily and also through planned activities such as pupil voice interviews.
- Children have individual education plans where needed.
- We have appointed a Senior Mental Health Lead to support with a whole school approach to building self-confidence and self-esteem in school and in order to support the wellbeing of all.
- Regular surveys to governors/parents
- Broad, rich and ambitious curriculum in place,
- Supporting of charity work, including Drovers Call Hampers and Foodbank donations – Harvest and Christmas
- Community Lunch at the village hall
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs:
We promote each pupil’s inclusion. As pupils move into the other Key Stages, further planned events and circumstances are planned for pupils to go into the community to meet with a range of people in a variety of situations which include: sports events, community functions (village hall) and shared participation with other schools. In our community each person is respected and valued equally without regard to ability, gender, faith, heritage or race. Cultural appreciation and development form part of our curriculum. We place emphasis on providing encounters and participation in events and celebrations to broaden all pupils’ experiences and awareness of others. Our school values help all pupils to find out about themselves and others linking their lives to the communities to which they belong.
- Values and shared through collective worship.
- RE curriculum.
- Cultural capital overview – trips to religious places.
- Regular visits to church.
- Children of different faiths help with learning in class.
- RHE curriculum and the consultation with community.
- Visitor worships with visitors from other areas of the world - Cornerstone project.
- Communication with all stakeholders to feel welcome – welcome sign at the front of school, offer to get a translator for different home languages spoken, teaching of German by a KS1 child.
- Children are taught different languages to answer the register.
- We have a focus during Anti-bullying week to celebrate our differences
- We show an understanding of different children’s cultures and take this into account through attendance procedures
Pupils are encouraged to experience British Culture through our curriculum themes. The Young Shakespeare Theatre groups have performed plays for us annually.
