Promoting Fundamental British Values

In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in school to ensure 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.

At Tanworth-In-Arden Primary School and Nursery we take very seriously our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain. We value the ethnic backgrounds of all pupils and families and undertake a variety of events and lessons to celebrate and explore these alongside other cultures in our country.

We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts. Our cross curricular approach provides excellent opportunities to deepen and develop understanding developing the spiritual, moral, social and cultural education of our children. Throughout the school year, our PSHE 'Jigsaw' program (taught weekly) extensively teaches the key values detailed below.

The school makes considerable efforts to ensure children have exposure to a wide experience beyond their local community during which these concepts are shown, through for example, sporting events, a range of visits and use of outdoor education centres. Their strong rooted values based understanding gives them an excellent platform for embracing difference.

At Tanworth, we value the voice of the child and promote democratic processes such as our school council whose members are voted for by the children. Ideas and events are planned and discussed with a chance for debate and putting forward points of view.

Children are given responsibility to run their own clubs, lead 'Family Time' sessions and lead other children in games and activities so that they are fully involved in all aspects of school life. For instance, our older children are play leaders and help to promote our core values. We expect all our children to be good role models for each other, which is encouraged through high expectations of behaviour.

The Key Values

Democracy is rife within the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council, through our Prayer and Worship Group and through Family Time. A class vote decides the members of the council for a year and meetings are held regularly. These pupils bring issues and ideas to the council meetings from their ‘constituents’. House Captains are also appointed through a voting system in KS2. We also complete Pupil questionnaires about school life annually, with the results shared with staff and governors, and acted upon.

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are constantly reinforced throughout the school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour 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. The School Council took a major role in agreeing our school rules. Each year every class agrees their own class code of conduct that works in partnership with our school rules.

Within school, 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 young pupils to make choices in safety, through of provision of a safe environment and empowering 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. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices. They are constantly encouraged to make the right choice in matters of behaviour.

An understanding of respect and tolerance is developed through our school ethos, our mission statement and our rights and responsibilities. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy. JIGSAW is taught across the school as part of PSHE along with our 1/2 term value.

This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. The curriculum ensures that pupils learn about different faiths and, members of school who share a different faith or religion are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Celebrations such as Diwali or Chinese New Year are enjoyed in class and in assembly. Links have been made with a school in Kosele in Kenya. The opportunity for reflection is given in assembly.

British Values at Tanworth 'Snapshot'

Information for parents