British Values at Haywards Farm School:

We promote fundamental British values and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.  We reflect the religious backgrounds represented in our community in collective worship and actively promote British Values, encouraging our pupils to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance.

The DfE have recently 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.”

The Government set out its definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. At Haywards Farm School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is embedded throughout our school curriculum.  Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern 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 our ambassadors,  pupil questionnaires and weekly check-in's during tutor time.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced.  Our school has high expectations for behaviour, which are deeply embedded in our work every day.  Each class also discusses right from wrong and sets their own class rules that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.  Our pupils are taught our school values and what they look like in practice which is progressive across phases. They are taught the reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Individual Liberty

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 our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education.  Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our e-safety and PSHE lessons.  Whether it is through choice of challenge; of how they record; of participation in our numerous extra- curricular activities; our pupils are given the freedom to make choices and are encouraged to act responsibly and show initiative.

Mutual Respect

As a school that holds values at the core of its ethos, our school values and behaviour policies have evolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’. The pupils have been part of discussions and collective worship related to what this means and how it is shown. Respect is one of the values that is taught explicitly within lessons, collective worship, enabling pupils to contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of our school.  It is shared with home through newsletters and website information.  Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others as do older children who have suitable, age related, tasks and responsibilities and this is reiterated throughout classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour.

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our core value of Respect ensures an inclusive environment for all and an appreciation for all faiths and beliefs. Haywards Farm School enhances pupils’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through Enrichment : PSHE work; assemblies  in order to celebrate differences. Beliefs, traditions and customs from around the world are studied, with visitors being invited into our school to enrich and extend understanding.  Through these activities, our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.

Votes for Schools Links:

Haywards Farm School also uses Votes for Schools to support the implementation of British Values (see SMSC section for further details on what Votes for Schools is and how we use it in our school).