British Values at Manor Farm 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 its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated in government guidance issued in 2014.

The Key Values are:

• democracy
• mutual respect
• individual liberty
• rule of law
• tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs 

Throughout our school, British values are promoted in a wide variety of ways and link closely to our own school values of: Bravery, Integrity and Curiosity. Below are just some aspects of school life that enable children to get a sense of these fundamental values  as they move on through their time at school.

Democracy:

At Manor Farm Junior School,there are numerous opportunities that are provided for children to exercise a vote. Children who wish to put themselves forwards are encouraged to do so by writing a letter or presenting to an audience. Opportunities to apply, nominate and vote include:

• House Captains
• School team captains
• Pupil Leadership roles e.g. Librarians and Sports Leaders
• Class Points rewards
• Simple day-to-day choices around school

When important votes take place in the UK, such as a general election or referendum, we make sure pupils are informed about the issues involved and have the chance to debate the questions together, with teachers taking an impartial role as facilitator of these debates.  

We actively teach children about their rights and responsibilities as British Citizens, both on a national level and global level. This is underpinned by PSHE lessons and school assemblies that often look at issues surrounding human rights across the globe.

We share examples of stories linked to democracy, discussing the challenges faced around the world. In 2023 we had workshops across all classes based on Women's Suffrage through the lens of Black History. Our carefully selected core texts address current and historical democratic issues which allow for in depth 'book talk' discussions in these areas. All children are actively encouraged to participate in class discussion and in their learning.

We also ensure that all stakeholders, including staff and parents, understand their democratic responsibility. We ensure to involve staff in decision making about the curriculum and encourage them to put themselves forward as leaders within school and of their own professional development. Our staff and parent/carer surveys allow us to hear the voices of our school community and make decisions with these voices in mind.

Mutual Respect

Children are taught to respect others regardless of their individual differences. Bullying of any kind is not tolerated and our approach to dealing with bullying incidents is evident in our school behaviour policy.

Children are taught to develop respectful relationships through our curriculum, particularly through PSHE and assemblies. We also address these issues through our carefully selected core texts. We promote mutual respect in the online world as set out in our E-Safety Policy that is seen by all stakeholders at Manor Farm Junior School.

We hold assemblies that celebrate difference, a range of cultures and also sustainable and environmental issues across the globe. Through this we help the children to build understanding of different people and their belief systems that may hold both similarities and differences to their own. Our newly adapted RE curriculum (2023) has a considerable focus on understanding and respecting similarities and differences in belief, culture, heritage and world views.

Individual Liberty

Children are taught about rights and responsibilities through assemblies, PSHE, RE, core texts and across the curriculum as a whole. Our school values of Bravery, Integrity and Curiosity are weaved into our assembly programme.

Children’s achievements are celebrated in assemblies in order to instill in them a sense of self-worth and develop ambitious pupils who believe in themselves and strive to be the best version of themselves that they can.

Children are taught about making choices and have a clear understanding of their own responsibility in their decision making. Time is spent supporting children, in a clear and nurturing way, when they are struggling to understand how their choices can impact themselves and other people.

Children across the school  take on roles and responsibilities that help to make the school function smoothly and successfully. These roles include:

• House Captains
• School team captains
• Pupil Leadership roles e.g. Librarians and Sports Leaders

Rule of Law

Our school values, pupil code of conduct and behaviour policy are based fundamentally around British law and what it means to be an upstanding member of a community, whether it be within our own school community, our local area, nationally or within the global community. Children learn that behaviours such as racism, homophobic abuse, gender based abuse, fighting or bullying of any description will not be tolerated. These commitments mirror the expectations set by society and function as a set of rules to enable positive participation in school life and life after school.

At Manor Farm Junior School, children are given the opportunity to be taught how to safely ride a bike ensuring that they follow the rules of the road.

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Our newly adapted RE curriculum (2023) has a considerable focus on understanding and respecting similarities and differences in belief, culture, heritage and world views. Through this curriculum, as well as though assemblies and PSHE lessons, children will develop empathy and kindness when considering the different views, opinions and ways of the world.

The more children learn about different religions, cultures and world views, the more likely they are to understand different people’s motivations and feelings, thereby enabling them to be more tolerant of those cultures and beliefs that differ from their own.

At Manor Farm Junior School, people of all religious beliefs, genders, ethnicities, sexualities, abilities or any other part of us that makes us unique,  are offered the same opportunities to thrive and be celebrated at our school. Equality is something we seek to uphold in everything we do.