Respect Resilience Responsibility
Promoting British Values
The Department for Education state there is a 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.”
At Milton Park Primary School we are committed to these values and regularly reinforce them in the following ways:
Democracy is embedded at the school. 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 School Ambassadors and regular questionnaires. The elections of the Ambassadors are based election , reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action.
The importance of laws whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced. Our school has rules, which are embedded in our work every day. Each class also discusses and sets its own 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 the value and reasons behind laws. They understand that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws or rules are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service and our 'mini police ' programme help reinforce this message.
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, emotional literacy focus and P.S.H.C.E. 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.
Respect is one of the core values of our school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have. The core value of Respect at Milton Park Primary School underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom. Our school is committed to developing respect for other cultures. We believe that this respect is fostered through wider curriculum opportunities. As well as developing intercultural understanding through the vehicle of Primary Languages, our wider curriculum incorporates a range of cross-curricular opportunities to learn about, and thereby develop greater tolerance of, and respect for, other cultures.
Our core value of Respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs. Milton Park Primary School enhances pupils’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education, P.S.H.E. work and visits to other places of worship to deepen understanding of different celebrations and beliefs. During regular termly International Days the whole school focuses on exploring it a range culture and traditions. These are studied in depth, with visitors being invited in to our school to enrich and extend understanding.
Promoting Fundamental British Values
In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.
The Key Values are: