British Values

“Together We Can”

VISION STATEMENT FOR PROMOTING BRITISH VALUES AND CULTURE

At Wainstalls School we ensure that through our school vision, values, rules, curriculum and teaching, that we actively promote British values to ensure that our pupils leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain. These values are:

• Whole school democracy
• Rule of law: school law and law of the land
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect and tolerance of other faiths

 We value the importance of the current Ofsted guidance:

Schools should ensure that they and the school promote tolerance of and respect for people of all faiths (or those of no faith), cultures and lifestyles; and support and help, through their words, actions and influence within the school and more widely in the community, to prepare children and young people positively for life in modern Britain.

As a school, we value the diverse ethnic backgrounds of all pupils and families and undertake a variety of events and lessons to celebrate these. We have found this approach to be enriching for all parties as it teaches tolerance and respect for the differences in our community and the wider world. Underpinning all this, are a range of curriculum topics which have strong links to British History.

We take every opportunity to promote these values, and to ensure our pupils have:

• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
• an understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
• an acceptance that people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
• an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination

These values are threaded throughout our curriculum as we understand that the society we live in is diverse and therefore, our curriculum and life within school reflects this. By promoting British values, we want all of our pupils to:

• Demonstrate manners and respect for themselves and others;
• Develop their knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
• Distinguish right from wrong and accept responsibility for their behaviour.
• Show respect for rules and the law;
• Understand how they can make positive contributions to society;
• Promote tolerance, harmony and demonstrate appreciation for different cultures;
• Encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes.

We promote and reinforce British values in the following ways:

General Overview

We celebrate the role of Britain both historically and in the present.  We want pupils to have knowledge of and be proud of living in Britain.

In Key Stage 1 we study several famous British people in history, such as Guy Fawkes, Florence Nightingale, Tim Peake and Mary Anning. We also celebrate or commemorate key dates in British history such as Bonfire Night and Remembrance Day. Our local studies into the area of Wainstalls includes Year 1 completing a local study of Anne Lister and Shibden Hall. 

In Key Stage 2 the British History curriculum is taught chronologically from the Stone Age and Romans in Year 3, Vikings and Anglo Saxons in Year 4, Victorians in Year 5 and WW1 and WW2 in Year 6.  History is taught through themes and also includes a local study of our area, linked with the Victorian unit in Year 5.

In Geography, pupils learn about their own locality. They also learn about Britain’s place in Europe as well as other aspects of its rich heritage.

In Year 6, pupils undertake a topic about 20th Century Conflict, covering World War One and Two, looking at the impact that the military had in fighting for the British Empire. The children will also briefly study modern conflicts, such as The Falklands, Gulf and Afghanistan. This is linked with Remembrance Day commemorations where children purchase poppies and a two minutes silence is held.

Our regular Learning 4 Life days help to embed our pupils understanding of what it means to be British.  Themes such as learning about the Waterstones children’s laureate has inspired our pupils to understand that with hard work and dedication, they can reach their goals.  Through using Pol-Ed resources, our pupils have explored the different qualities which make a responsible citizen and have thought about ways in which they may demonstrate these qualities themselves.  We have learnt about important historical figures, for example Grace Darling and the Dalai Lama and the impact they had on the wider world. 

We are a part of the West Yorkshire Police Education Programme (Pol-Ed) and use this resource to help to keep our children safe by enhancing their understanding of risks, consequences, and the law. Through using this programme, we aim to foster resilience and empower our pupils to help and support each other.

As a whole school, we have celebrated the World Cup, the Olympics and Para Olympics, with Olympic themed sports days, competitions to design sports kits and opportunities to learn about the history of Olympians in this country.

In recent years, we celebrated the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the birth of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with special assemblies and themed lessons. The Diamond Jubilee was a huge event for the school, with a 'street party' event held in the school hall. Traditional children's party food was served to all.  We paid our respects to our late Queen Elizabeth and celebrated the coronation of Kind Charles II. 

On a general level, the school undertakes daily assemblies which uphold traditional values of empathy, respect and tolerance. These are also taught within formal PSHE, Citizenship and RE lessons and on an informal nature throughout the school days.

Specific Themes

Democracy

Democracy is clearly evident within our school. Our PSHE curriculum enables our pupils to learn about and engage in democracy and the process thereof.  The annual election and work of our School Council reflects British democracy. Each class, from Year 1 to Year 6 vote for representatives, which gives classes a say on the decisions that are made at our school. The councils meet regularly with our PSHE lead to discuss how they want to bring about positive change within our school. Our councils are very proactive in having their voices heard.  In Year 6 we have a team of School Ambassadors who have to submit a letter of application and go through an interview process. Their role in school is to support in assemblies, lead tours of the academy for visitors and get involved in community link projects.  We also democratically elect Team Captains for our house teams which are voted by the whole school.  Our school behaviour policy involves a Restorative Justice system, ensuring that both sides of any disputes are taken into account, with agreed sanctions put in place. All classes have a Behaviour Good to be Green display and pupils are involved in discussions as to how behaviours should be levelled.  Our RotaKids club make decisions on ways in which we can support our school and wider community.

The Rule of Law

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days and through school assemblies.  Our PSHE curriculum and Pol-Ed resources enables our pupils to learn about different types of rules and laws and how this impacts them, both in school and in the wider community.  Our pupils are taught the rules from an early age in the Foundation Stage and are aware of our fair Good to be Green behaviour system and the consequences of not following the rules in our school community. Wherever possible, we allow our pupils to have an opportunity to put right what has been done wrong.  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. We have strong links with many authority groups such as West Yorkshire Police and the Fire Service. Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service; Ambulance etc are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. The concept of the Rule of Law is also reinforced through teaching activities in our citizenship curriculum and within Learning 4 Life Days.

Individual Liberty

Within Wainstalls 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 safely, through the provision of a safe environment and 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 challenge, their lunch options, or participation in extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect

Part of Wainstalls’ ethos and behaviour policy revolves around core values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. These ideas are reiterated through the school and classroom rules, as well as our behaviour policy. Additional support is given to individual children to help develop self – esteem and the concept of respect. We have a learning mentor who takes specific self-esteem groups, plus we access support for children with specific needs from outside agencies as and when required.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our curriculum reflects, celebrates and teaches pupils about diversity.  Children learn that we are all different and have different beliefs and values. This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. In RE, pupils learn about other faiths and are given the opportunity to explore these faiths, including similarities and differences. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying are regularly held. We follow the Calderdale / Kirklees Agreed syllabus for RE and use the SCARF materials to enhance PSHE teaching.

At Wainstalls School we are very proud as a school as we feel our values are a true reflection of British Values.