British Values

Dearham Primary School is committed to actively promoting British values to ensure our pupils leave us fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

The government emphasises that all schools should ensure that they teach pupils about British values.

We take every opportunity to promote the fundamental values of:

Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Through the promotion of these values, our school aims to ensure pupils:

Understand the democratic process and how citizens can have a say in decision making.
Recognise the advantages of living under the rule of law and how law is essential for a safe society.
Understand that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary and why it exists.
Understand the reasons for accountability of institutions and why courts maintain independence.
Know why freedom of religion protects all faiths, as well as those with no faith.
Accept that people who hold different religious beliefs should be tolerated and not discriminated against.
Value the importance of identifying and combatting extremism.

We promote British values both within and beyond the classroom and these values are at the heart of our ethos. Here are just some of the ways our school seeks to embed the teaching of British values.

Democracy

Children, parents and staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard at Dearham Primary School.

School Council – the election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: candidates make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative, pupils vote in secret. Made up of two representatives from each class, the School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes. They also collaborate with our local primary schools in our area.

Head Pupils – Head Pupils are voted for by secret ballot by their peers, again reflecting democracy in action. Their role is to meet directly with the Head to discuss what is going on in school and share the children’s voice. They also meet visitors and represent the school.

Digital Leaders – Digital leaders put themselves forward for the role and help promote online safety. They deliver ideas and suggestions to their peers and share any new information that comes into school from the Computing Subject Lead.

As part of our subject deep dives we ask children to think and reflect on the teaching and learning in particular subjects.

Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.

Parents’ opinions are welcomed at Dearham Primary School through methods such as questionnaires and parents evenings.

The rule of law

The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices. At the start of the school year, each class discusses the school rules and class routines, principles that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. These rules play a fundamental role in our behaviour sanctions and rewards and are linked to our Reward assemblies and courtesy cups.

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves, and the consequences when laws are broken. These values are reinforced in different ways:

Visits from authorities such as the police and fire service
Cycling Proficiency lessons enable children to understand the rules of the road and the potential dangers encountered should they break those rules.
During Religious Education, when rules for particular faiths are thought about
During other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules

Individual Liberty

Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment, we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely; for example:

Choices about how they can improve their learning
Choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities

Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our PSHE lessons.

Collective worship is used to both explore and support the school’s values. By teaching the children how to manage and understand emotions they will be motivated and equipped to:

Be effective and successful learners
Make and sustain friendships
Deal with and resolve conflict evenly and fairly
Solve problems with others by themselves
Manage strong feelings such as frustration, anger or anxiety
Be able to promote calm and optimistic states that promote the achievement of goals
Recover from setbacks and persist in the face of difficulties
Work and play cooperatively
Compete fairly and win or lose with dignity and respect for all competitors
Recognise and stand up for their rights and the rights of others
Understand the value the differences and commonalities between people, respecting the rights of others to have beliefs and values different to their own.
To respect and value our world, and the things, both material and alive that exist within it.
Children in Year 6 are given key roles and responsibilities such as Play leaders, Reading Buddies, Digital Leaders and Sports Leads.
Through opportunities such as our extra-curricular clubs and Residential Trips, pupils are given the freedom to make safe choices.
Children at Dearham Primary School are encouraged to make choices knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment.

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

We have high expectations of achievement and behaviour. Children and staff are polite and kind. We listen and respect each other. We teach the children that conflict will be dealt with calmly and fairly. All members of the school family are valued equally. We celebrate each other’s achievements whether that be in or out of school through our weekly Award Assemblies.

Teachers plan exciting, interesting, challenging and innovative lessons where everybody is expected to do their best and respect others.

When our older children are given key roles and responsibilities to work alongside younger children.

Dearham Primary School promote and celebrate different backgrounds and beliefs. Tolerance, politeness and mutual respect are at the heart of our aims, ethos and R.E curriculum.

Our pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone and to everything, whatever differences we may have. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community are encouraged to treat each other with respect.

Dearham Primary School enhance pupils’ understanding and respect for different faiths and beliefs through:

Religious Education, PSHE and other lessons where we develop awareness and appreciation of other cultures – in English through fiction and in art and music by considering cultures from other parts of the world.
Celebrating cultural differences through assemblies, themed weeks, noticeboards and displays.