In accordance with The Department for Education, we aim to actively promote British Values in school to ensure our young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that, while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

The key values are:

·         democracy

·         rule of law

·         individual liberty

·         mutual respect

·         tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

Hever British Values

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 and these values have been reiterated by the Prime Minister. At Hever Primary School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

 

Democracy

Democracy is richly embedded within the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through a variety of means, for example through School Council, pupil questionnaires, meetings with the Headteacher and also as Head Boy or Head Girl. Our school policies on Behaviour and Values involve the use of rewards and sanctions. This is shared through all aspects of school life and also shared with parents, carers and children from Reception through to Year 6.

 

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether it is those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days and through our collective school worship time, as well as when dealing with behavioural issues. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws; that they are in place to govern and protect us, the responsibilities that these involve and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are a regular part of our calendar events and help to reinforce this message.

 

Individual Liberty

At Hever, 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 all pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering approach through education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Pupils are further empowered through being part of a school council and are able to take part in pupil forums which link directly to the Senior Leadership Team and/or the Governors. Pupils are given the freedom to make a wide range of choices from attending extra-curricular clubs to supporting fundraising events.

 

Mutual Respect

As a school which holds values at the core of its ethos, our school policies on Values and Behaviour have evolved around our core values of ‘Respect, Love and Wisdom’, and pupils have been part of discussions and collective worship related to what these mean and how they are shown. 'Respect' is one of the values that is clearly taught within lessons, collective worship and within the ethos of being a 'Rights Respecting School’. It is shared with home through newsletters, our use of Facebook and via information on the school website. Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others alongside some of the older children who are given suitable, age-related tasks and responsibilities and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as behaviour.

 

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

At Hever, we consider ourselves to be a culturally rich and diverse school where children have unique opportunities to learn from each other, by sharing and celebrating their different faiths and cultures. Collective worship and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed up and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.