PROMOTING BRITISH VALUES AT SWAFFHAM CE PRIMARY ACADEMY

At Swaffham CE Primary Academy we value and celebrate the diversity of backgrounds of all children, families and wider school community.

The Department for Education states that there is a need:
“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”.

The Department for Education defines British Values as follows:

• Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process
• Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England
• Support for equality of opportunity for all
• Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law
• Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs

Our school reflects British values in all that we do. We promote life long learning, positive challenge and aspirations, and a belief that we all have a part to play in our community. These core values are fundamental to our aims to create safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British society and to the world. We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community
and the wider world.

At Swaffham CE Primary Academy, we actively promote British values in the following ways:

DEMOCRACY

• Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard through child questionnaires and child surveys. Our School Council meets weekly and is informed by the views expressed in our Class Councils. The School Council reports regular to the Headteacher and the Governing body.
• The principle of democracy is explored in our PSHE curriculum.

RULE OF LAW

• Our school follows ‘School Rules’, which are integral to our learning and ethos
• every day.
• School rules and expectations are clear, fair and regularly promoted.
• Our behaviour policy is focussed not just on ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ behaviour, but the key messages of “Ready, Respectful, Safe”.
• Children are encouraged to respect the law and Swaffham CE Primary Academy enjoys visits from authorities such as the Police, Fire Service, St John’s Ambulance, etc. to help reinforce this message
• The Behaviour policy sets out a zero tolerance baseline for any form of aggression, abuse or violence, which extends to children, staff and parents and carers.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY

• We look for every opportunity to provide children with responsibility in the school. Our Year Six team captains man the reception each lunch time; answering the phone and organising letters for registers. Children apply in writing for this popular role!
• Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and our behaviour policy and procedures reinforce the importance of making the right choices.
• Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety teaching and PSHE lessons.
• Vulnerable children are protected and stereotypes challenged. A strong anti-bullying culture is embedded in the school and any form of bullying is challenged and addressed.

MUTUAL RESPECT AND TOLERANCE OF THOSE WITH DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS

• The children know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone, adults and children.
• Children are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.
• Staff and children are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.
• Links and visits are promoted with local faith communities and places of worship. Visiting ministers hold weekly assemblies based on Christian Values.
• Through the PSHE and RE curriculums children are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations.
• Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudiced-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE.
• We offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected and global dimension work embedded in many of our Dimensions curriculum topics