British Values at Crockenhill Primary School

At Crockenhill 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

These values are taught explicitly through Personal, Social, Health and Emotional (PSHE) and Religious Education (RE). We also teach British Values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.

The school takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through collective worship and whole school systems such as electing and running a successful School Council. We also promote British Values through ensuring our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values.

At Crockenhill 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 and eco council. Pupils elect new class representatives every year.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws and rules, whether they govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day. Our system for behaviour is an agreed set of rules. Children go through a set of sanctions agreed in the school behaviour policy if these rules are broken. Teachers and support staff alike consistently refer to our school rules and discuss the consequences of making the wrong choices.

We are committed to rewarding good behaviour and praising children’s efforts. We hold a weekly ‘celebration’ assembly in which children are chosen by class teachers for excellent effort in learning, behaviour or adhering to the school rules. We also choose a challenge certificate winner from each class in which children are selected for their efforts in meeting the challenge value of the half term. House points are an important part of rewarding good behaviour and efforts in learning. House points help children focus on making right choices and having a positive mindset. During celebration assembly we see which team has the most points. We praise our children at Crockenhill informally, individually, during group work, in front of the whole class and the whole school.

Individual Liberty

We encourage our children at Crockenhill to make choices knowing that they are in a safe, supportive environment. We encourage our pupils to know, exercise and understand their rights and personal freedoms and advise them on how to exercise these safely. For example, e-Safety teaching. Pupils are encouraged to choose and join up for a variety of after school clubs.

Mutual Respect

A large part of our school ethos and behaviour is based around core Christian Values such as respect, responsibility’ and kindness. These values help us to live as a community. We have a value assembly each half term in which we discuss the half term’s value and talk to each other about how we can adapt out lives and behaviour to incorporate the value

Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

This is achieved by enhancing the children’s understanding of their place within a culturally diverse society and school. Collective worship and discussions around prejudice and bullying are followed up in PSHE and RE lessons. We mark important celebrations and events within our school such as Diwali, Black History Month, Eid and International Week. We invite speakers and run workshops to give children a real experience of a different belief system.

Some of the things we have done to address British Values so far this year are:

• We have celebrated Diwali which promotes a tolerance for other beliefs.

• On Remembrance Day we marked the event by raising money for the British Legion by selling poppies. The whole school visited Crockenhill War Memorial for an assembly where Year 2 laid poppies and everyone observed a two-minute silence.

• Children participated in Christmas Productions at school, in the village churches and also sang carols in Swanley Town Centre to raise funds for sick children.

• We marked the Harvest by thinking about and collecting tinned goods for those less fortunate in the community.

• We have had visits from the local community police to discuss safety and dangers.

• Playground buddies help to promote good behaviour and support children in the playground.

• Book buddies to build relationships with children in other year groups and share a passion for reading.

Crockenhill Remembrance Service

The School Council attended Crockenhill Remembrance Service and laid a wreath of poppies on behalf of the school community. We have been buying poppies to raise money for The Royal British Legion who support soldiers and their families that have been injured or killed in wars.

Article written by Year 6 Website Club