British Values

In 2014 the Prime Minister and Department for Education reiterated 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”, as defined in The Prevent Strategy 2011.

We believe that British Values are embedded through our curriculum provision, collective worship, engagement with the Huntington and Cheshire West community, international links, roles and responsibilities, celebration of an increasingly diverse local community and in the way that we treat and respect all that we come into contact with.  Every child and adult at Huntington Primary has a voice and a role to play in our promotion of British Values.

Huntington Primary recognises the multi-cultural, multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom and understands the role which both the staff and pupils have to ensure that we both promote and uphold these values throughout the year, as exemplified below.

DEMOCRACY

• There is a well-established School Council at Huntington Primary, running for the past ten years. Two school councillors are elected for each year in September through a secret ballot, with presentations prepared by candidates in the older classes. The council then meets regularly throughout the year to complete projects and tasks.
• Governors have attended School Council meetings and will review the Council’s work at the end of the school year to discuss the projects completed.
• The Junior members of the Council have visited the Houses of Parliament to learn about our democratic system, and to inspire participation in the elections which follow immediately afterwards.
• Pupils are also elected to an Eco-Council and Arts Council, and Year 6 pupils as captains of the school’s Junior houses (Bridgegate, Eastgate, Newgate and Northgate).
• We welcome local politicians and dignitaries into school to discuss democracy and their role within it (Parish Councillors, Lord Mayor and city MP, all since 2014).
• We help children to express their views, during class council meetings, circle time and other opportunities.
• Our behaviour policy reinforces the importance of social responsibility and fairness.

School Councillors visiting Parliament in London		Year 6 visiting the Town Hall to meet the Lord Mayor

 

THE RULE OF LAW

• Children are taught about responsibility, the importance of rules and consequences, and how and why rules are made.
• Each class discusses, decides and agrees their class rules each September.
• Children have the opportunity to reflect on their own learning, their own behaviour and their own safety.
• Regular visits from St John’s Ambulance, the Police and the Fire Service reinforce messages about community responsibility and the rule of law.
• Children learn about the law in relation to Drugs Education and SRE.
• Through PSHE, RE and Global Education, pupils learn about the reasons for laws, how they govern and protect us, the responsibilities and consequences arising from the rule of law and, for younger children, the ideas of ‘right, wrong and fair’
• We show respect and value those who work to keep the laws of the country.

Our PCSO in assembly

 

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY

• Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own behaviour, and to understand that rights are accompanied by responsibilities.
• Children are encouraged to take on areas of responsibility and leadership: for example, class monitors and Eco councillors (every class), Playground Leaders (Y5), Reception Buddies, Librarians and Junior Safety Officers (Y6).
• Through the provision of a safe and empowering environment, children are supported to exercise their rights to personal freedom within accepted boundaries.
• Children are taught about the importance of Online Safety through the computing curriculum (SWGfL programme), workshops with IT professionals and via the annual Safer Internet day.
• Children are given a degree of freedom to select and creatively interpret and present tasks in many curriculum areas.
• Children learn about the range of family units and relationships, with stereotypes challenged.
• Children are offered a range of extra-curricular activities to choose from (with most freely provided or heavily subsidised).
• The importance of civil liberties is emphasised, with the school’s South African links having led to a regular focus on apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s life.
• Pupils participate in the annual Huntington Remembrance Parade, including delivering readings, and learn about the defence of liberty in British history (e.g. Battle of Britain).
• We encourage our children to be independent, active citizens, preparing them for their adult years (e.g. careers fair for Y5 pupils).
• We support our pupils to articulate and actively reflect on their views, regardless of their age.
• Universal Children’s Day has been celebrated, with a focus on The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Huntington Remembrance ceremony		Mr Rose on Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, with former inmate Zozolulamile Madololo and Mr Devilliers from Westcott Primary

MUTUAL RESPECT

• Respect underpins our work both inside and outside the classroom
• We show respect to those who serve our country and to all in our local community.
• We have effective Anti-Bullying and Inclusion Policies, promoting respect for all.
• PE lessons and sporting competition reinforce the importance of fair play and promote teamwork and collaboration.
• Co-operative learning strategies, used across the curriculum and in all age groups, provide opportunities for positive engagement with other pupils.
• Charitable and Global work encourage pupils to learn about and empathise with those less fortunate than themselves.

Junior Sports Day - a draw between two houses

 

TOLERANCE OF THOSE WITH DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS

• We enhance pupils’ understanding of different faiths and world views through the RE curriculum.
• We welcome faith visitors into school (e.g. Open the Book weekly assemblies for KS1 children).
• We visit places of worship, including St Luke’s Church in Huntington (e.g. KS2 pupils at Easter).
• Children learn about diversity, differences and similarities through Global Work and our links with Westcott Primary in Cape Town (including three teacher exchange visits since 2012, latterly involving 6 schools in Cheshire and South Africa).
• Pupils learn about celebrations and festivals from a range of religions and cultures (e.g. Ashura, Chinese Mooncake festival).
• Children are taught to recognise and report prejudice.

Easter service at St Luke's church		Chester Diwali parade

 

British Values are also promoted as below

• Fundraising for, and drawing attention to, charities that are important to pupils within the school.
• Learning about the countries which make up Great Britain and the United Kingdom: their geography, governance, flags, symbols and culture.
• Valuing British traditions: e.g. celebrating Harvest, attending a Christmas pantomime.
• Becoming familiar with work by British artists.
• Hosting school functions linked to national events (e.g. the Queen’s 90th Birthday)
• Providing events for the community: the choir singing for elderly residents, co-ordinating a Christmas  parade with the Parish council.
• Accepting responsibility for our planet through sustainable global education.
• Learning about inspiring Britons in history and collective worship.
• Engaging with stories of national and local concern.
• Acknowledging that these British Values are not unique to Britain and can be found as integral values throughout the world, across a range of religions and a variety of cultures.