British Value Statement

 

Promoting British Values at Galliard Primary School

Schools have a duty ‘to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation to promote the fundamental British values.

The five British Values are: 

     Democracy 

     The Rule of Law 

     Individual liberty 

     Mutual respect 

     Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs 

At Galliard we promote British Values through our spiritual, moral, social and cultural education and our School Core Values, which permeate through the school’s curriculum and supports the development of the ‘whole child’. At Galliard we recognise that such development is most successful when those values and attitudes are promoted by all the staff and provide a model of behaviour for our pupils and challenge those who express opinions that are contrary to these values.

Democracy:

• Each new school year the pupils work collectively within their class to choose their class rules and the responsibilities associated with them.  

• Each pupil becomes part of a House (Richmond, Bedford, York and Grosvenor) when they enter the school. These represent roads in the local area and are therefore are a representation of our local community. In Year Six House Captains and Vice House Captains are elected by all pupils in each House in KS2. Those standing apply formally for the position under agreed criteria and if successful make a speech to their peers who then cast their vote. Children are able to use this process to support their understanding of living in a democracy. 

• Our House Captains are working this year to voice the issues raised by pupils across the school and are working in partnership with school staff to improve the experience for all pupils within the school. 

• Looking ahead, we hope to launch a Galliard’s first School Parliament in the Summer Term. Every pupil from KS1 up will have the chance to take part in a special ‘Polling Day’ and complete a ballot paper voting for the pupils they wish to represent their family group as their MP. These MPS will then meet with the headteacher every half term. Each class has a class councillor. The councillors are responsible for collecting the views and issues raised in their classes. In Year Six, instead of councillors, each class will have two MPs (Members of Parliament) who lead their council in bi-weekly meetings. They take minutes and chair the meeting, supported by a Senior leader.  

The rule of Law: 

• The pupils are taught the values and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when broken. The Sanctions, rule of law, set out within our Behaviour Policy are progressive in terms of the seriousness of the misdemeanour and are seen by the school community as fair and just. 

• Children are given every opportunity to learn about taking responsibility for their own actions and their role as a responsible member of the school community, local community and as a global citizen. 

Individual Liberty: 

• Giving children the skills to make the right choices for themselves, their families and the wider community underpins all that we do and to exercise their individual liberty in the right way. 

• As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education, and feeling confident in themselves to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ appropriately. 

• Safeguarding our pupils is paramount and PSHE/e-Safety lessons aim to equip pupils with the skills to make safe choices. Children are aware of the need to use the internet safely and to feel confident in n telling their parents/teachers if they feel unsafe. 

Mutual Respect: 

• Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy revolves around core values such as ‘respect’, ‘responsibility, compassion and courage. Children have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what these mean and how they are shown. Rewards are given for positive attitudes and behaviours and there is a weekly assembly to reward consistent effort and achievement. The school ethos and aims promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our class room rules as well as our behaviour policy. High levels of mutual respect are obvious in the school and are demonstrated daily in the excellent relationships between staff and pupils. 

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs: 

• Galliard Primary is a diverse school. We actively promote diversity through our day to day celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. The children have visited places of worship that are important to different faiths. (Members of different faiths and religions within our school family are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning.) We also welcome theatre groups who promote messages of equality and underline the spiritual, moral, social and cultural values of groups of people around the world and within Britain.