Swaffield School

British Values

We agree with the Department for Education’s definition of British Values: 

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Different Cultures and Religions

We believe it is incredibly important that these British Values permeate through every school in the country.

At Swaffield, our pupils learn about British Values through assemblies, PSHE and the wider curriculum. Through the promotion of British Values throughout our everyday school life, our children will develop:

• An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
• An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their
  wellbeing and safety
• An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
• An acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself should be accepted and
  tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
• An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination

The British Values are explicitly taught in PSHE through Jigsaw, our scheme of work.  The concepts and ideals of British Values are visited and revisited throughout the programme so that they are fully embedded as a whole school approach rather than being taught as one-off lessons.

Please see below for more information and to see how the lessons are mapped out across the school:

Democracy - What do we do?

  • Each class from Year 2 to Year 6 has two representatives on School Council. Children have to give a speech explaining why they would be good for the role and the class then votes.
  • School Council meetings to discuss whole school issues – take ideas from class to present at School Council meetings.
  • Democracy taught in PSHE lessons
  • Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school, for example helping to choose after school clubs
  • Help pupils to express their views – all lessons
  • Pupil voice and questionnaires
  • KS2 workshops provided by the Houses of Parliament Education Team

Rule of Law - What do we do?

  • Ensure all children know the school rules and the importance of them –
    Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Responsible
  • Super’sembly every Thursday – an Above and Beyond award is given to one child in every class each week who has been following the School Rules. They attend an Above and Beyond party the next day with the other award winners
  • Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong - PSHE
  • Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made – PSHE
  • Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals - PSHE
  • Explore within our PSHE lessons, laws and how to deal with peer pressure
  • Anti-knife crime talks from people within local community and police
  • Online safety lessons – PSHE and Computing
  • Cyber Choices workshop for Years 5 and 6 run by the Met Police
  • Year 6 trip to Lavender Hill Magistrates Court

Individual Liberty - What do we do?

  • Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem, self-confidence – all lessons
  • Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights - PSHE
  • Model freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils and promoting critical analysis of evidence
  • Challenge stereotypes - PSHE
  • Anti-Bullying Week, with Anti-Bullying remaining a constant priority
  • Online safety units – PSHE and Computing
  • Cyber Choices workshop for Years 5 and 6 run by police

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Different Cultures and Religions - What do we do?

  • Children learn about the protected characteristics as outlined in the 2010 Equality Act to promote respect for individual differences and to actively challenge stereotypes - PSHE lessons and assemblies
  • Explore positive role models (where possible) through our topics who reflect the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act
  • Use of No Outsiders assemblies to teach children about mutual respect and tolerance
  • Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour – all staff
  • Each year group to visit a different place of worship with children in Years 5 and 6 doing a Faith Trail which visits a number of different places of worship in one visit
  • Whole school celebration weeks focussed around anti-bullying (Anti-Bullying week), racism (Black History Month) or Mental Health (Children's Mental Health Week) 
  • RE lessons provide our children with a good understanding of a range of religious beliefs and customs. They learn about the religion and from the religion.
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