Promoting British Values at Walmley Junior School

The DfE have 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 set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. At Walmley Junior School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Each year all pupils contribute to drawing up a set of rules for their class (a ‘Class Charter’) and consider the rights associated with these. We have an Eco-Council and an Online Safety Council whose members are democratically elected and work together to effect positive change within school.

Pupils have the opportunity to complete an annual questionnaire to put forward their views about the school.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Walmley Junior. Pupils are taught from an early age the rules of the school. There are our class rules, playground rules and online safety procedures. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

At Walmley Junior, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our online safety and PSHE lessons.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

Walmley Junior is a diverse school. 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 the school. The children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.