British Values
Here are some of our posters from Black History Month 2021.
At Burley St Matthias, our motto "Everyone is Special" means that it is very important to us to celebrate and cherish the backgrounds and experiences of all our pupils. We didn't feel that the National Curriculum for history did enough to recognise the contribution made by people from diverse backgrounds, including black and Asian people and also women. Therefore, this additional objective for history is written into our school plans and is threaded through all our teaching.
What are British Values?
Ofsted and the DfE have defined four key British Values:
- Democracy and the rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Respect and tolerance
- Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
‘Schools will be expected to focus on, and be able to show how their work with pupils is effective in, embedding fundamental British values. Actively promoting also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values.’
When can children learn British Values?
Our Assemblies are a key place where values are taught – both Christian Values and the values of British Society. Assembly themes are planned in line with the PSHCE curriculum and cover with social, emotional, cultural, moral and spiritual values which are explored during the week in whole school, key stage and individual class settings.
We have also identified that lunch times and play times are also a key opportunity to put these values into practice. The learning mentors and senior members of staff play a key role in demonstrating these values in following up playground incidents using restorative justice techniques.
RE and PSHCE lessons, including circle time, play an important role in teaching social, emotional, cultural, moral, and British Values, but there are many opportunities embedded in the curriculum. The spiritual dimension to our curriculum is inextricably linked to these values.
There are opportunities to learn about democracy when children are given the opportunity to make choices through voting, eg:
- School Council elections (Summer term)
- House Captain elections (Autumn term)
- Choosing parts for class plays and assemblies
- Voting on who should be awarded class certificates
In addition, our curriculum provides specific opportunities to consider British Values through the following themes:
|
Democracy |
Rule of law |
Individual liberty |
Respect and tolerance |
|
Year 2 – escaping Vesuvius Year 4 – changes in Victorian times Year 4 – power and democracy Year 5 – Greeks Year 6 – persuasive writing Year 6 – Outdoor and Adventurous Activities Year 6 – slave trade |
Year 1 visit from PC Year 2 – fire fighters Year 3 – making a game (need for rules) Year 5 – sporting competitions Year 6 – Outdoor and Adventurous Activities Year 6 – slave trade
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Year 1 localities Year 4 – power of individuals and choices Year 6 – Outdoor and Adventurous Activities Year 6 – slave trade |
Year 1 respect for older generation (toys) Year 1 – differences in localities Year 1 – family trees Year 2 – locality studies Year 2 – immigration Year 3 – why do people move to other countries? Year 5 – attitudes of conquistadors to Aztecs Year 6 – Outdoor and Adventurous Activities Year 6 – slave trade |