BRITISH VALUES

Honley CE (VC) Junior, Infant and Nursery School is an inclusive school. We welcome admissions from all those entitled to an education under British law, including pupils of all faiths or no faith. Our policies and practice ensure that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. We seek to serve all our community.

The Government requires all schools to actively promote Fundamental British Values, in order to improve safeguarding; strengthen the barriers to extremism; ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background and to ensure young people leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain. This aligns with all schools’ obligations under section 78 of the Education Act (2002)

‘General requirements in relation to curriculum

The curriculum for a maintained school or maintained nursery school satisfies the requirements of this section if it is a balanced and broadly based curriculum which—

(a) promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and

(b) prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.’

The Fundamental British Values, first set out by the government in the ‘Prevent’ strategy in 2011 and reinforced through further Department for Education advice in November 2014 are:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Honley CE (VC) Junior, Infant and Nursery School’s Christian Vision reinforces our mission to promote the British Values through the whole range of its formal and informal curricular and extra-curricular activities. We believe that learning about the world, others and ourselves can never be finished - there is always more to know, understand and do and in this spirit we can live useful and happy lives together. The Teachers’ Standards expect teachers to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school and therefore be effective role models.

The following DfE guidance list describes the understanding and knowledge expected of pupils as a result of our school promoting fundamental British values:

Pupils should have:

• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
• an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence;
• an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety;
• an understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
• an acceptance that people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted in the spirit of mutual tolerance and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour;
• an understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination.

Here are some examples of actions we take to promote British Values at Honley CE (VC) Junior, Infant and Nursery School:

Democracy

The principle of democracy is consistently being reinforced at Honley JIN School, with democratic processes being used for important decisions within the school community via our Pupil Forum, for instance to choose whole school rewards and equipment choices. The principle of democracy is also explored in the History and Religious Education curricular as well as in class circles times and assemblies. 

The rule of law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced in our school.  Pupils are taught the rules and expectations of the school which are highlighted through our Golden Values and Behaviour and Relationships policy.  Students are taught the value and the reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.  Visits from authorities such as the Police, Fire Service and others reinforce this message.

Individual liberty

At Honley JIN School, pupils are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Staff educate and provide boundaries for students to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. 

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised on how to exercise these safely, for example through circle time, assemblies, e-safety and restorative practices.

We have a robust anti-bullying culture supported by a comprehensive Behaviour and Relationships Policy.

Mutual Respect

Respect is one of our Golden Values at Honley JIN School and is reinforced through our ethos and expectations. As a Restorative Practices school, pupils learn that their attitudes and actions have an effect on their own rights and those of others.  All members of the school community are taught to treat each other with respect and this is reiterated through teaching and learning environments. 

Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum by providing the opportunity for pupils to express their views in a safe environment within our mission; ‘Love for learning and Learning for Life’– so that the thoughts and answers of all are respected as we learn and grow together. 

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

This is achieved through equipping pupils with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving the opportunities to experience such diversity within the school community.  Pupils benefit from a number of visitors, including people from different faiths, cultures and nationalities.  Additionally, pupils are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school and celebrate festivities throughout the calendar year.  The Religious Education curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. 

Social, Moral, Spiritual & Cultural development is taught through a broad and balanced curriculum where SMSC opportunities are highlighted on lesson plans to maximise opportunities for learning across the curriculum. Through our SMSC education we help pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence; distinguish right from wrong and to respect English law; encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and contribute positively to society; enable pupils to acquire a broad general knowledge of, and respect for, English public institutions and services and to appreciate and respect their own and other cultures.