At Pickhurst Academy we uphold and teach pupils about the British Values which are defined as:
• democracy
• rule of law
• individual liberty
• mutual respect
• tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
These values are taught explicitly through Personal, Social, Health and Emotional (PSHE), Religious Education (RE), Philosophy for Children and the International Primary Curriculum. We also teach the British Values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.
The academy takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through assemblies and whole school systems and structures such as electing and running a successful School Council. We also actively promote the British values through ensuring that our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values. Actively promoting British Values also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including 'extremist' views.
Examples of our Practice in Promoting SMSC and British Values
At Pickhurst Academy, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy:
Democracy is an important value at our academy. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council. The elections of members of the School Council and of Year 6 House Captains are based on pupil votes.
Children recommend each other for the half termly "Values Awards" which are awarded to individual children (or classes) who show they are modelling co-operation, respect, morality, empathy, adaptability, trust, communication and resilience.
The children have worked together to form and understand the 3Cs, co-operation, common sense and courtesy, the children work and live by the 3Cs and they are displayed around the school alongside the Golden Rules.
The Rule of Law:
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the academy or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Our 'Golden Rules" for behaviour are aligned to an agreed set of codes and if children are given verbal warnings this is always set against the agreed school behaviour policy. Children are asked to identify which Golden Rule they have broken to ensure that this connection is made and understood. Gold stars have been introduced to reward children for living their life by the chosen set of rules. Their names are entered into the Golden Book and they are given a Golden star during celebration assembly. Children 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, fire service, lifeguards etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty:
Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices at our school, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our children to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and planned curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-Safety teaching and PSHE lessons. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. signing up for extra-curricular clubs, choose the level of challenge in some lessons and are becoming increasingly more involved in child–led learning, e.g. Philosophy for Children and planning and delivering child led assemblies and evaluating assemblies, influencing how adults deliver content in future assemblies. Through Philosophy for Children we take a theme each half term for example respect, and the children develop their understanding of that theme through planned lessons and activities. The work is shared through a display in the dining hall.
Mutual Respect:
Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy are based around core Christian values such as 'respect' and 'responsibility' and these values determine how we live as a community. Assemblies are based on 'Values for Life' and are central to how we expect everyone to go about their life at our school. Children and adults alike, including visitors, are challenged if they are disrespectful in any way. Values are highly visible around the school and can be seen in posters, certificates and as part of our agreed 3Cs and Golden Rules. Through the International Primary Curriculum specific Personal Goals are highlighted and each half term we have a whole schools focus. The Personal Goals focus on co-operation, respect, morality, enquiry, adaptability, trust, communication and resilience.
Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
This is achieved through enhancing pupils' understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity in our local community which is by large white British. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE, PSHE and the International Primary Curriculum where explicit International Learning Goals are taught through themed topics. Different cultures, values and beliefs are celebrated and discussed throughout the topics.