British Values at Bowesfield

Last week, we conducted a democratic process of electing members to be this year’s School Council representatives. Here are a few pictures from our library Polling Station.
18/10/22

British Values at Bowesfield Primary School

‘Mutual respect is evident throughout this happy school community as pupils and staff genuinely delight in each other’s company’ Ofsted June 2018

British Values are defined as:

Democracy

The rule of law

Individual liberty

Mutual respect

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Children have planned opportunities to explore and learn about British Values during collective worship, through the curriculum and when learning about significant current national or international events; or reflecting on world events, national commemorations and achievements by British citizens.

Bowesfield is a Silver Rights Respecting School and we are planning our journey to becoming Gold. As we extend children’s understanding of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we extend their understanding of British Values and the relationship between the two.

Democracy:

UNCRC Article 12

Every child has the right to say what they think in all matters affecting them, and to have their views taken seriously.

Classes are represented by their Rights Respecting Schools Steering Group members, who regularly seek their views. Children are consulted on decisions taken in school, encouraged to be independent and to give their views whether this is within learning or about aspects of school which involve them.

Examples are:

Involvement in recruitment of key staff – asking candidates questions regarding their knowledge of rights.

Involvement in selecting resources – books for reading areas, books to read within reading groups, selecting resources to use in their work.

Involved in decisions on how to celebrate and mark events within school.

The Rule of Law

UNCRC Article 5

Governments must respect the rights and responsibilities of parents to guide and advise their child so that, as they grow, they learn to apply their rights properly.

At the start of every school year, each class decides a class charter with the adults who work with them. The class charter provides a reference point to ensure that all children’s rights are met. There is discussion of what the adult’s and children’s roles are in keeping the charter. The charters support good behaviour. Children are rewarded for good or outstanding behaviour within class with tokens.

Inappropriate behaviour is discussed with reference to the CRC and there is a staged response to incidents.

There are opportunities to work with professionals from the police and other community services for older children.

Individual Liberty

UNCRC Article 13

Every child must be free to say what they think and to seek and receive information of any kind as long as it is within the law.

Children are encouraged to become independent, confident, self-regulating learners through the curriculum, through voicing their opinions, through the use of the school and class charters.

They are taught how to keep themselves safe and to stand up for the rights of themselves and others, as well as learning about the lives of others whose rights are not met because of bullying, racism or a lack of freedom.

Examples are:

Opportunities to say what they think and contribute to decisions within class and school.

Opportunities to contribute to plans they have e.g. Child Protection, Personal Education Plans, SEN Support Plans.

Opportunities to improve their own learning and to judge how well they have done using success criteria and individual targets.

Learning about safety, anti-bullying and how to keep themselves safe.

Reflecting on the rights of others within history work, geography, science, in stories and through global learning.

Mutual Respect

UNCRC Article 29

Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures and the environment.

At Bowesfield there are high expectations of children’s behaviour towards others and mutual respect is at the heart of this.

Children are taught that every individual will get the support they need to participate and succeed within school and that this means different things may be provided for different people.

Children and families are treated with respect by the adults who work with them. We listen to them and take their views into consideration.

Any discriminatory or prejudiced behaviour is taken very seriously, challenged and recorded.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

UNCRC Article 14

Every child has the right to think and to believe what they want and also to practise as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Governments must respect the right of parents to give their children guidance about this right.

We have children from a very wide range of backgrounds and this is their school.

Through Religious Education children learn about the beliefs and practices of different faiths and this learning is reinforced through texts shared and through discussion in other areas of the curriculum.

A range of festivals are celebrated within school and religious absences are respected.

Children understand that derogatory comments are not tolerated and will be dealt with promptly.