Promoting British Values At Mayfield

In accordance with The Department for Education, we aim to actively promote British values in our school to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain and beyond.

At Mayfield Primary School we value the diversity and backgrounds of all pupils, families, staff and wider school community. As well as this, pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with tolerance and respect.

The Key British Values are:

• democracy
• rule of law
• individual liberty
• mutual respect
• tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

“A key part of our plan for education is to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background.”

Nash, 2014

At Mayfield, through our provision of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development (SMSC), we will:

• 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 children to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
• encourage respect for other people; and
• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

Embedding the British Values

We help children to remember the British Values using our ‘British Value Buddy’. This involves an acronym ‘Mr Tid’, which helps the children use their hand and fingers to recall the values. Mr Tid and the values are displayed in each classroom and communal areas, as well as used during lessons/related tasks where the activities link.

The British values at Mayfield are promoted using ‘termly themes’. Each theme is introduced to the children through an introductory assembly. Under each half-term, activities are arranged to provide the children with a range of opportunities to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the values. Examples of this include our ‘One World Week’ and ‘Diversity Day’.

What We Do

Democracy –

• Class voting for the election of school councillors and eco representatives at the start of the academic year
• Provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services
• Teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process in many ways (class activities, books, meals)
• Taught through assemblies and our school curriculum
• Pupil Voice opportunities
• Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged
• Local Councillor visits
• School council annually visit the Manchester Crown Court

Rule of Law –

• Ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair
• School behaviour policy consistently followed
• Weekly celebration assemblies
• Learning behaviour of the week
• Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong
• Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made
• Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals
• Explore within our PSHRE lessons what laws are and what to do if peer pressure is trying to persuade children to break these
• Annual visit from police and fire services during our ‘Careers Week’
• Rule of Law day

Individual Liberty –

• Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem, self-confidence through My Happy Mind
• Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights
• Challenge stereotypes
• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture and pupil voice
• E-Safety units of work are taught throughout schools Computing curriculum and parents and staff receive up to date information regarding this
• Class fundraising on a topic of their choice

Mutual Respect and Tolerance

• One World Week where each class researches a different faith and produces a class project
• Diversity Day where each class investigates a different type of diversity and the protected characteristics
• Faith visitors leading an assembly from Oldham Interfaith Group
• First Aid Champions learning
• Explore positive role models (where possible) through our topics who reflect the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act
• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
• Organise visits to places of worship (in line with RE topics)
• Assemblies for religious festivals such as Hannukah, Eid and Christmas
• Our RE scheme ensures that our children have a good understanding of a range of religious beliefs and customs
• Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life
• Class debates