British Values

Earl spencer Primary School is very supportive of the ethos of promoting British Values, and preparing our pupils for success in a modern Britain. Staff  model and teach pupils about the British Values which are:

• democracy
• rule of law
• individual liberty
• mutual respect
• tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

These values are taught explicitly through PSHE and Religious Education.  We also teach the British Values through delivering a broad and balanced curriculum, and through modelling respect, democracy and tolerance of all.

The school takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through our whole school themed assemblies, whole school systems and structures such as the class and school councils. We also actively promote the British values through our curriculum ensuring that planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values.

Actively promoting British Values also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.

Democracy

We empower our pupils by giving them opportunities to make choices about the things that they believe to be important. By valuing each ‘voice’ and by listening and responding to that voice we demonstrate that we support democracy and liberty

Pupils also have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our school and class councils and pupil questionnaires. The elections of School Council Members are based solely on pupil votes.

The School Council itself is led by a member of staff and adheres to democratic processes, reporting its actions to the Headteacher.

The principle of democracy is also explored in the curriculum, such as the History and RE curriculum, as well as in assemblies. 

Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. 

Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through a range of avenues, such as class and school councils.

Elections take place for different roles within the school, which reflect our British electoral system and demonstrate democracy in action.

Individual Liberty

Our pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a supportive environment.  Staff teach children to take responsibility for their own behaviour and attitude to learning and use. Restorative conversations, where needed, to support this.

Pupils have key roles and responsibilities in school e.g. Year 6 Play Leaders, Wellbeing Ambassadors etc.

We educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and an empowering education.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons.

Whether it is through choice of participation in extra-curricular clubs and opportunities etc, pupils are given the freedom to make choices. We offer wide and varied extra curricular opportunities to enable children to follow their individual interests. Either before school, during lunchtime or after school.

The Rule of Law

At Earl Spencer Primary, our children have 4 school rules to follow. These are displayed around the school.

 

The school’s Behaviour Policy ensures consistency and understanding of our rules and processes for all children.

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days; when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.

In the curriculum, children are taught about the importance of following a set of rules through teaching. For instance, cooking in DT, camp fires in Forest School and the rules of the game in PE lessons.

Our PSHE Curriculum teaches children about valuing differences, understanding right and wrong, the consequences of actions, relevant laws and structures.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is demonstrated by adults and children at Earl Spencer Primary School.

Our PSHE curriculum embodies the values of Mutual Respect through units of learning such as relationships.

Through PE and extracurricular clubs, we promote an attitude of equality and fairness.

Pupils participate in a variety of charitable events e.g. Children in Need, Poppy appeal etc.

 

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

 

We teach children to accept that others have different faiths or beliefs (or none) and these should be accepted and tolerated.

This is achieved through enhancing pupils' understanding of their place in a culturally diverse school and society. 

Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying are regularly held.

We follow the agreed Northamptonshire syllabus for RE which provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures.