British Values
St Paul’s CE Primary School is committed to glorifying God and serving its community.
The Department for Education (DfE) published guidance on promoting British values in schools (Promoting Fundamental British Values as part of SMSC in Schools, DfE, November 2014).
All schools have a duty to ‘actively promote’ the following fundamental British values:
- democracy
- the rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect
- tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
They are to be actively promoted:
- to improve the safeguarding of pupils;
- to strengthen barriers to extremism; and
- to ensure that young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.
In St Paul’s School we ensure:
- that the curriculum policy, plans and schemes of work do not undermine,
- that the teaching given does not undermine, and
- that the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural and PHSE education provided actively promotes Fundamental British Values.
British Values are taught in St Paul’s School through the SMSC elements of the subjects and topics taught in the curriculum and through the PHSE curriculum In addition they are reinforced regularly in the following ways.
Democracy
They discuss and decide each year in their class rules for the class. The pupils also have a strong voice in our school through the active, elected School Council (Pupil Voice) that meets regularly. In such ways they discover how they can influence decision making.
The Rule of Law
The importance of law, whether it be that which governs an individual, a class, the school, or the country (both civil and criminal), is taught in whole school meetings, by class teachers, and in curriculum activities. Pupils are taught
- the value and reasons for laws, especially that they are essential for the wellbeing and safety of themselves and others,
- the responsibility to keep them, (e.g. all people living in England are subject to the law of the land), and
- that those who make laws are separate from those who deal with law-breakers, and,
- there are consequences when laws are broken.
Individual Liberty
Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand, and exercise their personal freedoms and they are advised how to exercise them safely (for example in whole school meetings, by class teachers, in relation to E-Safety and through PSHE lessons). They are taught that the freedom to hold other beliefs is protected in law.
Pupils learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. Our teaching and learning environment reinforces the value of having respect for each other.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is taught throughout the curriculum, which allows all students the opportunity to express their views within a safe environment.
Our behaviour policy ensures that there is the opportunity to discuss, reflect and resolve any incidents where mutual respect has broken down.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Mutual respect and tolerance are central features of the teaching of Jesus Christ. As a consequence ethnic and cultural differences (including beliefs and behaviours) are recognised and the reasons for them explored and explained.
In St. Paul’s School we actively challenge pupils, staff or parents who express opinions contrary to Fundamental British Values, including those defined as ‘extremist’.
Extremism is defined in The Prevent Duty (June 2015, page 5) as: “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs” and “calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.”