Promoting British Values
The Department for Education has introduced a statutory duty for schools to promote British Values more actively from September 2014, and to ensure they are taught in schools.
Westcroft School is committed to serving its community. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
It follows equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. Westcroft School is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its students.
The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. The five key British Values are:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
The school uses strategies within the national curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students. The examples that follow show some of the many ways Westcroft School seeks to instil British Values.
Democracy
Primary – from Year 6 pupils vote for their school council member, pupils are used during class time for modelling or leading, they choose and vote on topics for their reward cards and choose their rewards activities, they have voted in school talent shows.
The rule of law
Primary – pupils know the school rules and its rewards and consequences, they understand that there are health and safety rules that apply to them e.g. while swimming, wearing a seat belt etc., they are taught right from wrong, as part of the curriculum they have visits from police and fire service.
Secondary – all pupils know the rewards and consequences; they have visits to and from the emergency services; pupils are aware that there are specific health and safety rules in some practical subject areas, pupils sign up to our internet safety rules. Through the curriculum pupils engage in learning about British laws and the consequences of breaking those laws; they think about moral issues that they may face in adulthood.
Individual liberty
Primary – pupils know about bullying and the consequences of this, they are encouraged to be a “good friend” and are involved in buddy reading and peer mentoring, they are always encouraged to make the right choice.
Secondary – pupils make individual choices for healthy eating, enrichment, reward trips, after school clubs and residentials. Pupils understand how to inform staff when they feel they are being bullied. At KS4 and 5, pupils have personalised timetables for which they have taken an active part in choosing; they are more involved in their Annual Reviews and know that their voice can be heard.
Mutual respect
Primary – it is one of our FAIR rules, through circle time and news time pupils are encouraged to listen and respect the views of others.
Secondary – the FAIR rules are a whole school consistent approach, they know to show respect towards others and their environment, peer assessment is encouraged, for some pupils ILP targets may reflect and reinforce the need for respect, assemblies to promote mutual respect and celebrate achievement, older pupils act as leaders both in school and out, lots of in school competitions through the house system, older pupils act as reading buddies with Primary aged pupils.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Pupils learn about other faiths and beliefs through the curriculum and we have celebration assemblies, lunch menus and activities.
