British Values

Lavant C.E. Primary School promotes the fundamental British values of:
  • Democracy,
  • The rule of law,
  • Individual liberty,
  • Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Through our Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) Curriculum we:

  • enable children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
  • enable children to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil, religious and criminal law of England;
  • encourage children to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;
  • enable children to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
  • enable children to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures strengthening tolerance and harmony between cultural traditions;
  • encourage respect for other people;
  • encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

By the time children leave Lavant C.E. Primary School, they should have:

  • an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
  • an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their well-being and safety;
  • an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
  • an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour;
  • an understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination.

At Lavant C.E. Primary School we address aspects of British Values through some of the examples below:

Democracy

  • School Council
  • Class Charters – Rights Respecting
  • Class opportunities to vote
  • Debating Issues (verbally and in writing)
  • Pupil conferences
  • Assemblies
  • Class Learning Journeys, for example "The Great Debate"

Rule of Law

  • School Rules – Rewards and Consequences
  • Visits from authorities such as Police Liaison Officer, Fire Officer
  • Romans – inventions of laws
  • Visit to the Council Chambers

Respect and Tolerance

  • Rights Respecting School
  • RE Curriculum
  • Behaviour Policy
  • Visitors to School – e.g. members of local faith communities
  • Learning about other cultures

Liberty

  • Freedom of Speech
  • Choice of learning pathways and personalised learning weeks
  • Assemblies
  • Use of good texts that addresses these themes
  • Cultural Traditions
  • English Curriculum
  • Celebrating events in the British Calendar, e.g. Harvest, Remembrance Day, Easter, Christmas
  • Focus Days

At Lavant C.E. Primary we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.