Promoting British Values at Mill Rythe Junior School

The DFE have 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 a definition of British Values in the 2014 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated this year. At Mill Rythe Junior School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Children at Mill Rythe play an ever increasing role in school leadership. We have a School Council from Y3-Y6 which meets regularly to discuss issues pertinent to school. The School Council represent the voice of pupils within Mill Rythe and is able to affect change within the school. Every child on the School Council is voted in by their class.

Pupil voice is also seen with children being chosen to be School Ambassadors and Eco-Warriors. Children learn about rights and responsibilities. They have the right to ensure the views of children are integral to our school life and curriculum and also the responsibility to carry out their role with integrity. Pupils are often involved in the interview process for appointing staff.

Through our curriculum children are taught about, and encouraged to respect, public institutions and services.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country are consistently reinforced at Mill Rythe.

Pupils are taught from an early age the rules of the school through the assemblies, school behaviour policy, home school agreement, e-safety talks and everyday life modelled by the staff. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and 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 and Fire Service help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

At Mill Rythe, 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 informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our PSHE work.

Mill Rythe has a robust anti bullying culture and behaviour and safety policies in place.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect and this is specifically reinforced through school systems such as Infant/Junior partners.

Mill Rythe provide opportunities for the children to visit places of significant cultural interest and places of worship, and we actively encourage visitors from a range of communities and organisations into school. Resources linked to the six major religions practiced in Britain are used to develop children’s understanding of different faiths.

Mill Rythe Junior understands the importance of discussion and has this threaded through all subjects of the curriculum. This ensures children are taught discretely how to deal with people who have opposing views to them and to feel confident to state if they have opposing views to others.