Teaching & Promoting British Values

British Values are:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect & tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

British Values also include:

• How citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
• An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their well-being and safety.
• An understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence.
• An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law.
• An acceptance that other people have different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or have none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.
• An understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.

At Ropsley Primary School we teach the above by including them in parts of the curriculum at age-appropriate times. We also demonstrate how democracy works through their own practice such as our school council and holding balloted debates and mock elections.

Our teaching resources are from a wide variety of sources and should help pupils to understand a range of faiths.

We understand the role of extra-curricular activities and how important they can be in helping to promote fundamental British values.

We recognise that embedding British Values is not only about teaching these values but “challenging opinions or behaviours in school that are contrary” and ensuring that no attempts are made to promote systems that undermine them.

Examples of their inclusion are:

• Democracy taught explicitly in Years 5/6
• An exploration of different faiths and beliefs in RE
• Discussion about personal freedom, rights, and responsibilities in Jigsaw PSHE lessons.
• An appreciation of the democratic process is modelled through our school council and its election but also in lessons on teamwork and leadership.