At Bearpark Primary School we uphold and teach pupils about British Values which are defined as:
- Democracy
- Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
We teach British Values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum. These values are taught explicitly through Personal, Social, Health, Emotional (PSHE), and Religious Education (RE).
The school takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through daily collective worship and whole school systems and structures such as electing and running a successful School Council, Junior Road Safety Officers, Mini Police and Play Team. We also actively promote British values through ensuring that our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values.
At Bearpark Primary School, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy:
Democracy is an important value at our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council. The elections of members of the School Council are based on pupil votes.
The Rule of Law:
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Our system for behaviour is aligned to an agreed set of rules and if children are given verbal warnings this is always set against the agreed school behaviour rules.
Children are asked to identify which aspect of the rules they have broken to ensure that this connection is made and understood. 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. Visits from authorities such as the police, fire service etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
To encourage and promote good behaviour, attitude and work, we have devised a reward system which is consistently followed throughout the school.
We are committed to praising children’s efforts. We endeavour to praise the children informally, individually, during group work, in front of the whole class and the whole school. Children are rewarded not only for achievement in curriculum areas, but for behaviour and general adherence to the School’s Behaviour Management policy. Rewards are given in the form of house point, stickers, certificates and prizes.
Individual Liberty:
Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices at our school, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our children to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and planned curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety teaching. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. signing up for extra-curricular clubs.
Mutual Respect:
Children are taught important values such as respect, responsibility and reconciliation. They are expected to demonstrate these values and help build a positive, caring school community. We have been working towards our ‘Educate and Celebrate’ award.
Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
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 our local community which is by large white British. Collective Worship and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. We invite guest speakers, run workshops and arrange visits to give the children a real experience of a different belief system.