British Values
Promoting British Values at Fordingbridge Infant and Junior Schools Federation
In accordance with the Department of Education, we aim to actively promote British Values in our Federation to ensure our young learners leave us prepared for life in modern Britain.
We promote the fundamental British values of:
Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
Mutual respect and
Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Our school Core Values work in harmony with the British Values. The children have developed badges to display around the school to show aspects of school life in which they are developed and promoted. Here are some examples of how we develop children’s understanding of the importance of British Values.
Democracy
At the start of every year, the children create a class charter where they collectively decide what actions are acceptable in their classrooms. This enables the children to hold themselves and others to account for inappropriate actions, in direct contrast to rules we follow. We have a school council with representatives from each year group. Each child is voted for by their class peers and the school council meets regularly to discuss issues across the schools. The council represent the voice of pupils within FIS and FJS and are able to effect change within the school. The pupil voice is also seen through children in roles such as Prefects, House Captains, Buddies, Cyber Ambassadors and Sports Ambassadors. Children learn that, together with the right to ensure the views of children are integral to our school life and curriculum, they have the responsibility to set an example across the school.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country are consistently reinforced across the Federation. The school’s Core Values and behaviour policies are regularly reinforced across the school as well as e-safety, class charters and home school agreements. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Children are given opportunities to make a better choice through a behaviour policy of warnings with a Red Card being the final opportunity for a child to turn their situation around. The rule of law is very much in the hands of the children to take responsibility.
Individual Liberty
Our children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in safe and supportive environments. As a Federation, we educate and provide boundaries for young children to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. Children 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 PDL work. We have a robust anti-bullying culture and behaviour and safety policies in place.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
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 Federation treat each other with respect and this is specifically reinforced through school systems. Through R.E. learning, children develop an understanding of different religions. We provide opportunities for the children to visit places of significant cultural interest and places of worship e.g. a Synagogue, a Mosque, St Mary’s Church for the Carol Concert, and we actively encourage visitors from a range of communities and organisations into school.
As a Federation we promote charity (e.g. Children in Need, Red Nose Day, Christmas appeal boxes, Save the children, Food bank) through fundraising and awareness raising activities.