The Department of Education has recently reinforced the 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 Government sets out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated in 2014. At All Faiths Children’s Academy these values are reinforced regularly in the following ways:
Each year the children decide upon their class rules and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to drawing up these rules. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class circle times and any other issues that may arise. Every child on the school council is voted in by their class. Children are able to put forward their views about the school.
The importance of rules and/or laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced regularly in one form or another in school on a daily basis and further reinforced through dealing with specific examples of poor behaviour, school assemblies and interactions with parents.
Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules/laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when rules/laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through PSHE lessons and sessions on E-Safety. Whether it is through choice of learning challenge or success criteria, of how they record, of participation in the opportunities provided, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual respect is given high priority in school and promoted through a range of class based and whole school means. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. This is supported by our very clear behaviour policy. All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect and be polite.
All Faiths Children’s Academy is a diverse school with many children coming from a country outside the UK. We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education lessons and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and children learn about places of worship that are important to different faiths.
At All Faiths Children’s Academy we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including ‘extremist’ views. We will also challenge racism and expect everyone within our community to respect British laws.