British Values at Chandlers Ridge
In line with the Department for Education document: Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools, department advice for maintained schools, November 2014. At Chandlers Ridge Academy, we have a strong and organic culture weaved through everything that we do. We embrace and support the diversity of all at Chandlers Ridge and believe that we support and guide our children to become independent, open-minded and well-rounded citizens of tomorrow.
The DfE states that:
Schools should promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
What is meant by ‘British Values?’
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect and tolerance
How can we prepare our children for adult life as citizens of Britain?
- Enable children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Enable children to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil 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.
- Further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
- Encourage respect for other people.
Democracy
- Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our school council and questionnaires.
- School council children and house captains are elected reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action.
The Rule of Law
- The importance of laws whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced.
- Our school has 3 rules ‘Be Ready, Be Respectful and Be Safe’, which are deeply embedded in our work every day.
- Our 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.
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 our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our Online Safety and P.S.H.E. lessons.
Respect and tolerance
- Implementing a strong antibullying culture
- Celebrating many British festivals and world events. Participation in celebrations such as Diwali, Eid and welcoming visitors. Children gain an enhanced understanding
- Respect is at the Core of our Behaviour Policy
- The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.
- Respect for everyone at Chandlers Ridge underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom.
- Community visits and visitors and local visits.