British Values
Promoting British values through our ethos, the curriculum, our personal, social, emotional and cultural development, and through our Church of England Religious Education curriculum.
Reinforcing values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.
The DfE have 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.”
Department for Education
British Values
The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these were reiterated in 2014.
At Kingsland C.E. Academy we reinforce and promote British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance in the following ways:
Democracy
Individual Liberty
Rule of Law
Mutual Respect
Tolerance
Opportunities for children
It is important that children feel part of the Academy community and that their opinions and ideas are valued.
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard and there are a number of varied roles such as Playground Leaders, Junior Leadership Team, Pupil Parliament and Lighthouse Leadership Team. Pupil’s voices are heard through regular Junior Leadership Team Meetings. The elected pupils discuss issues and suggest ways to improve the life of the Academy and how we can contribute to the local community.
Children discuss and decide which charities and fundraisers the school should support for the year, organising whole school events both in the Academy and within the Lighthouse Centre.
Be a part of something
Our whole school creative curriculum ensures that our children deepen their understanding and feel part of the local and wider community.
Within our Academy, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As an academy we educate and provide boundaries for children to make choices safely. All of our Year 6 children have key roles and responsibilities in school, such as Lunchtime Helpers, members of the Chaplain’s Team, Worship Team members and many more. There is also a wide range of children who have Buddy duties within school. Through our curricular clubs and opportunities, children are given the freedom to make choices.
Our Academy ethos outlines our determination to prepare children for the ‘wider community’. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised as to how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the academy, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout our academy days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.
Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message. Circle time is used as an opportunity to discuss difficult situations that benefit from whole class discussion. Keeping safe when using the internet is regularly discussed with children in computing lessons and in assemblies.
Knowing, understanding and following our Good to be Green rules is essential for our academy to be a safe learning environment. Our Good to be Green rules are on display in all classrooms and are reinforced by all staff members. We have regular assemblies about Good to be Green to promote children’s understanding and social development.
Assemblies, Worship and PSHE times are delivered with a focus on the law e.g. safety Awareness and E-Safety awareness. We also have visits from stakeholders who re-enforce the importance of keeping safe on line. Parent workshops are offered to support parents on the law around E-Safety.
Our behaviour policy echoes the values of our Mission Statement which all stakeholders follow.
Our Academy’s Christian values and school ethos underpin our Academy philosophy. We believe our vision and values are essential in developing well rounded citizens. These values are incorporated into school assemblies and lessons.
Pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have, and to everything, whether it is a school resource or a religious belief. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community should treat each other with respect.
Our R.E curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. Our Kingsland C.E. Academy christian values are at the core of our community and our families from other faiths value and embrace this aspect of our school.
Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our PSHE Programme is delivered through a cross curricular approach.
Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.
We believe our academy to be at the centre of our local community; our vision and values are embodied in celebrations and events such as inter-generational work, the school fair, our charitable work and participation in various sporting, academic and artistic endeavours.