British Values at Blackmoor Park Junior School
The Department for Education has stated that there is:
“…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
tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”
Here at Blackmoor Park Junior School we are committed to serving our community and surrounding areas and we recognise the ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom and the beliefs, cultures and faiths people who live here.
School displays promote famous British people and their achievements.
The children’s own ideas of what makes us proud to be British is clearly displayed in the school hall.
Our school motto is a prominent feature around the school environment to act as apoint of reference and a reminder of community values:
By Living Together, Learning Together
And Playing Together We Will All Achieve
You will find below an outline of how we promote British values and fulfil this DfE requirement. The list is not exhaustive, and represents only some of what we do. However should you feel that the school is not meeting this requirement, you should contact the school office and request to express your concerns with a senior member of staff. Likewise, if you feel that anyone working at the school is, intentionally or otherwise undermining these values, you should report this too in the same way.
British values permeate throughout our school in a wide variety of ways.
Here are just some examples:
Democracy
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard.
We have a pupil elected School Council and Eco Council which meets regularly to discuss school issues meetings.
Pupils vote for Head boy & Head girl.
Our four school teams, Walker, Lever, Maritime and Tate are led by both boy and girl Team Captains who have been elected by their peers.
The Rule of Law
Each year children contribute and decide upon their own class rules and the rights associated with these. We have a team of 20 Junior Leaders who act as positive role models and support their peers in the daily life at BPJS.
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with any behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, or how they record, or participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect
Our golden rule is "Treat others the way that you would wish to be treated". Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community are encouraged treat each other with respect and remember good manners.
Here is our Code of Conduct:
When we come into school we should always:
Show respect for every person and look after each other
Take care of our school and all of the things in and around it
Talk calmly to someone whenever we have a problem
Move around sensibly, safely and quietly remembering our good manners.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforce this. Members of different faiths or religions are invited to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.
We follow the agreed Liverpool RE Syllabus and this provides a greater understanding of religious diversity and practices. It covers key religions represented in the UK.
Our school’s Collective worship’ is non-denominational and recognizes that those attending may have a wide range of faiths, or none. It is however, in line with statutory requirements and is “wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character”.
Any pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to the fundamental British Values outlined above including ‘extremist’ views will always be challenged.