Our federation understands that our schools are required to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. As part of this, we actively promote the fundamental British values of:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect for and tolerance (acceptance) of those with different faiths and beliefs
This is set out in the Department for Education’s guidance on promoting British values in maintained schools.
As a result of our promotion of British values, our pupils gain:
- An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
- An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety
- An understanding that some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence
- An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
- An acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
- An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination
British values are reflected in our vision and ethos and implemented effectively in our policy and practice.
We promote British values in the way we:
- Include age-appropriate material in the curriculum on the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of democracy, and how democracy and the law works in Britain and within our school community
- Make sure that all pupils within the school have a strong voice that is listened to
- Demonstrate how democracy works through actively promoting democratic processes in our decision making.
- Organise visits to local councils and places of worship, and encourage contact with those in political or local office
- Use opportunities such as general or local elections to hold mock elections to teach pupils how to argue and defend points of view
- Use teaching resources from a wide variety of sources to help pupils understand a range of faiths
- Consider the role of extra-curricular activities, including any run directly by pupils, in promoting fundamental British values
Some examples of good practice across the federation:
- Visits and visitors which enrich the curriculum and are chosen to support the promotion of core values eg a visit from the Mayor of Great Yarmouth and participation in a debate at the Town Hall.
- All three schools run regular Circles Assemblies where issues are discussed and decisions democratically made.
- Children in all three schools regularly visit local churches and enjoy visits from church leaders of differing faiths.
- All three schools deliver a values based education which reflect British values.
- Mock elections take place which mirror General Elections.
- Partnership with overseas schools.
- Children keep up to date with and debate current affairs eg watching BBC Newsround.
- Children are supported and encouraged to take social action. Eg a ‘save the planet’ club supporting their understanding of and interest in differing views.
- Children are supported to lead their learning.
April 2022
