British Values

All schools have a responsibility 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’ (DfE 2014).

British Values are an important part of our education and we take our responsibility of helping to develop and prepare our children for life in modern Britain very seriously.

At Harnham Junior School, we have a weekly British Value focus, which often comes from something in the news and leads to discussion and a deeper understanding. A British Values display in the hall offers supporting resources, stimulating discussion among the children and helping to develop understanding from different viewpoints.

Each week, these discussion foci are shared, via email, with families and members of our community so that they can be discussed at home, if parents wish. 

At Harnham C of E Junior School, these values are reinforced regularly in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is rife within our school. Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council, Collective Worship Monitors, Playground Squad, IT Champions and School Librarians. Voices are also heard through regular pupil questionnaires. The elections of House Captains, Collective Worship Monitors, Playground Squad, School Council representatives and librarians are contested each year and are based solely on pupil votes. Our school behaviour policy involves rewards and children earn points for their House.

The Rule of Law

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Behaviour and Learning Behaviour are seen as a priority. The children at Harnham Junior School are taught the value and reasons behind laws and rules, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws and rules are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. Children understand that their behaviour and regard for the rules extends beyond the school itself, such as being school ambassadors whilst on school visits.

Individual Liberty

Within school, 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 choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of challenge, of how they record, or of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices. Throughout their time at Harnham Junior School, children are encouraged to challenge their personal best by giving them ownership of their own learning. Children regularly have next steps shared with them, whether verbally or with written feedback in books so they know exactly what they can do to progress.

Mutual Respect

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around the Core Values such as ‘Respect’ and pupils have been part of discussions and Collective Worship related to what this means and how it is shown. Assemblies are linked to our school and British values and we celebrate achievement, positive attitudes and hard work regularly. Learning and effort are highly respected across the school.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Collective Worship and assemblies have discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying and these have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. We regularly speak to children about other cultures and countries. Our partner school is based in Nepal. All our children learn about other cultures and countries from around the World in RE lessons. Children study Islam, Judaism and Hinduism. Diversity is one of our curriculum influencers which have influenced the design of our curriculum and underpin everything we do.

Weekly British Values discussions

We use Picture News weekly resources to help focus the children’s attention on the British Values stated above. All of the resources for the weekly discussions are sent with the Newsletter on a Friday, or can be found on the Home Learning pages of the School website, and so gives families a weekly topic to discuss at home. This is followed up in class each week where the children have the opportunity to listen to and discuss one another’s points of view and, in some cases, will inspire the children to have an impact on what is happening in the world around them.

Picture News at Home

Click on this link to view this week’s British Values topic.

This week, the focus is on Rule of Law. ‘The Department for Education (DfE) is the department of the UK government responsible for education. They set policies, guidance and rules about how and what we learn..’

Story: The UK's first teacherless classroom, using AI (artificial intelligence) instead of human teachers, has opened. David Game College, a school in London, began its new course for twenty GCSE pupils in September. The pupils will learn using both AI platforms on their computers and VR (virtual reality) headsets.

Question: Will classrooms of the future be teacherless?

The UN Rights of the Child focus is on Article 28, Access to Education. ‘Every child has the right to education. We should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible.’

Bible link: Romans 14:17 Biblical value: Faith Theme: Teaching, learning, growing

Click on the image below to see a child friendly document explaining The Rights of The Child.