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British Values

British Values at Saltergate Schools

Schools are required to teach British values as part of their responsibility for promoting the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. In doing this they can also show that they are ‘actively promoting fundamental British Values.’

At the heart of these values, lie good relationships in which teachers and students work together towards common goals. Much work was already in place to support and embed these values, and it is our aim to ensure we effectively share this with pupils, staff, governors and the wider community. 

These values are integral to our school vision and ethos and are reinforced regularly.

The British Values are defined as:

Democracy
  • To understand and respect the democratic process
  • To teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process
  • To promote pupil voice in the decision-making process and help pupils to express their views
  • To support children to debate and defend a point of view
  • To understand the value of team work.

The rule of law

  • To help pupils to distinguish between right and wrong and to support children in taking responsibility for their actions.
  • To ensure the school rules are fair and expectations are consistent
  • To provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services.
  • To help pupils to understand that living with rules and laws helps to keep us safe and protects us.
  • To teach pupils aspects of civil and criminal law and discuss, at an appropriate level, how this may vary in Religious law.
  • To develop restorative justice through behaviour policies.

Individual liberty

  • To support pupils to develop their self-esteem, self-knowledge and self-confidence
  • To educate the children about their own rights and responsibilities
  • To ensure the children understand their rights and responsibilities
  • To encourage pupils to take responsibility of their own behaviour
  • To model freedom of speech through pupil participation, ensuring the protection of vulnerable pupils.

Mutual respect

  • To support children in working cooperatively with one another and respect one another’s opinions and views.
  • To help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life
  • To encourage pupils to show initiative and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those in the local community and to society more widely.

 Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

  • To teach pupils to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
  • To promote respect, understanding, acceptance and celebration of individual differences and a diverse society.
  • To develop critical personal thinking skills
  • To challenge stereotypes

How do we develop British Values?

British Values are developed across the curriculum in all classes and through a variety of whole school activities:

  • Positive relationships with adults in school and in the wider community

  • Pupil voice contributing to decisions in our school council and pupil feedback at every opportunity.

  • Assemblies focussing on different values

  • Display in classrooms, identifying how children have demonstrated their understanding of

  • British values

  • 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 e-safety and SEAL lessons.

  • Behaviour policy

  • We enjoy visits from authorities such as the police and fire service

  • Participation in community events

  • At the start of the school year, each class discusses and its Golden Rules, a set of principles that are clearly understood by all and necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe environment.