British Values
At Woodbury C of E Primary School we value the diversity of backgrounds of all pupils, families and the wider school community.
The Department for Education states that there is a need:
The Department for Education defines British Values as follows:
- Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process
- Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England
- Support for equality of opportunity for all
- Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law
- Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs
Our school reflects British values in all that we do. We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British society and to the world. We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world.
At Woodbury School, we actively promote British values in the following ways
Democracy
Our School Council promotes the democratic process – pupils nominate and vote for class representatives for the School Council. Through School Council and the Ethos Group the children democratically decided upon the current School Values. The children create a class code and adhere to our School Rules. Pupil and Parent/carer questionnaires are completed annually, the information being used to inform school improvement and evaluate projects or proposed ideas. Children are encouraged to voice their opinions in formal and informal ways. Our approach to marking enables pupils to respond to their learning process.
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs - We promote tolerance and understanding of each other, including differences of faith and beliefs. Our RE and PSHE curriculum provides broad and balanced learning about the main world religions and celebrates the similarities and differences of those living in different countries and with different beliefs. Within our RE curriculum, we plan opportunities for children to visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. We provide resources to ensure that all pupils are effectively integrated into the teaching and learning process and the wider school including those that join us throughout the year and who have English as an additional language. Members of different faiths and religions from our school and beyond our local community are encouraged to share their knowledge by talking to the children in class. We have links with a school in Tanzania and participate annually in the World’s Largest Geography Lesson, as well as Fair Trade fortnight.
Individual Liberty
We actively encourage our children to make their own wise choices, knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment. Within the curriculum, children are given choices about what they learn and the best way for them to learn. All staff model
how to respectfully express their views and beliefs and the children are encouraged to do the same. The children have key roles and responsibilities in our school parliament, such as Librarians, School Council members, Ethos Group
members or fulfil a responsibility for a specific task. The children have the opportunity and choice to take part in a range of different extra-curricular activities. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal
freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons and during Circle Time. The children are taught who to speak to if they are worried or concerned about themselves or others. Childline
and NSPCC posters are prominently displayed around the school
Mutual Respect
Respect was chosen by the children to be one of our School Values as they considered it to be essential to school life. All members of the school community treat each other with respect and model tolerance and respect in their behaviour
with colleagues and pupils. Whole school and Key Stage Collective Worships follow a theme which includes respect, honesty, love and tolerance. Our children are taught how to be an effective team member, respecting the views of all. They work together in different groupings and situations in different lessons and subjects. Our children are encouraged to share ideas in public and show respect for other pupils’ opinions at all times. Our School Rules also reinforce mutual
respect. Children throughout the school participate in live productions and assemblies during the year. Staff report any racist, homophobic or bullying incidents into the Senior Leadership Team immediately and appropriate action is
taken to correct the situation and ensure that it does not reoccur.
The Rule of Law
We have clear School Rules and expectations for behaviour for everyone in our school, be they staff, volunteers or children. We have a clear Whistle Blowing Policy which is followed and adhered to. Time is spent at the start of the year and whenever the need arises helping the children to understand how the School Rules relate to their situation and why it is important to follow them. Each class has a code of conduct created by pupils in each class at the start of the school year. Laws and rules of the class, school and country are reinforced through specific assemblies, such as about road safety, and when dealing with behaviour. Our Educational Welfare Officer works closely with the school to ensure
attendance and punctuality is good. Pupils follow, respect and appreciate different rules in different situations such as in PE lessons or during an educational visit. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service support learning that we all have responsibilities and that there are consequences when laws are broken. The school supports pupils to regulate their own behaviour and make choices for the well-being of themselves and others.
