Core British Values

British values are promoted throughout much of what we do at Hunnyhill, not least during our school assemblies and Religious Education lessons. The values are integral to our long-standing school ethos and values, which complements British values.

​

As well as actively promoting British values, the opposite also applies: we would actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including ‘extremist’ views.

The term ‘British values’ might be slightly misleading in that these values are integral to so many countries throughout the world – they differ in no way from the values of most western European countries, for example.

Below are just a few examples of how we promote British values. The first section is a general overview; the others are specific expectations set out by Ofsted.

​

Schools are subject to a duty (Section 26, Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015) to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty. At the foot of this page there is some information to support parents in discussions about extremism and preventing radicalisation.

 

Being part of Britain​

As a school, we value and celebrate the diverse heritages of everybody at Hunnyhill. Alongside this, we value and celebrate being part of Britain. In general terms, this means that we celebrate traditions, such as customs in the course of the year; for example, Remembrance and Harvest during the Autumn term.

 

We also value and celebrate national events, such as the BBC Children in Need appeal. Further, children learn about being part of Britain from different specific perspectives. Two specific examples of when we teach about being part of Britain are:

Geographically: Our learning at Hunnyhill ensures that children have a better understanding of what Britain is, learning more about:

​

• Its capital cities and counties, its rivers and mountains

• How ‘Great Britain’ differs from ‘England’ and ‘the United Kingdom’

• Where Britain is in relation to the rest of Europe and other countries in the world

​

Historically: The main focus is British history. Children learn about an aspect of life and how this has developed and changed over time.​​

​

Democracy

Children, parents and staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard at Hunnyhill Primary. An obvious example is our Junior Governors.

​

The election of the Junior Governors members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: candidates make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative, pupils vote in secret using ballot boxes etc. Made up of two representatives from each class in KS2, the Junior Governors meet regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes.

​

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. We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.

 

Promoting Democracy at Hunnyhill

• Elections for Junior Governors

• Elections for Anti-bullying ambassadors

• School values

• Class charters

• Proud to Belong Curriculum

• Links with our Governing Board

 

The Rule of Law

The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices.

 

At the start of the school year, each class discusses and sets its own Class Charter linked to our school values, a set of principles that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.

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. These values are reinforced in different ways:

 

Promoting Rule of Law at Hunnyhill

• Police visits

• Understanding right from wrong through our ethos, values and PSHE/Proud to Belong Curriculum

• School values

• Ready, Respect, Safe

• Proud to Belong Curriculum

• Consistent behaviour policy

• Understanding the consequences of our actions

• Taking responsibility for our own actions

• Taking part in team sports

 

 

Individual liberty

Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment and empowering education, we provide boundaries for our young pupils to make choices safely.

 

Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our E-Safety lessons.

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Mutual respect is at the heart of our aims and ethos – To develop understanding of and respect for a wide range of religious values, languages and cultural traditions and different ways of life – and it’s one of our three school rules: Ready, Respect, Safe

Our pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have, and to everything, whether it is a school resource, a religious belief or whatever. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community should treat each other with respect.

 

Promoting Individual Liberty at Hunnyhill

• Anti-bullying ambassadors

• E-safety learning

• Zones of Regulation

• After-school club choices

• Proud to Belong Curriculum

• Opportunities to share thoughts and problems with others.

 

Mutual respect for, and tolerance of, different faiths and beliefs​

We are proud to promote and celebrate our different backgrounds and beliefs. Mutual respect is at the heart of our aims and ethos – To develop understanding of and respect for a wide range of religious values, languages and cultural traditions and different ways of life – and it’s one of our three school rules: Ready, Respect, Safe.

​

Our pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have, and to everything, whether it is a school resource, a religious belief or whatever. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community should treat each other with respect.

 

Promoting Mutual Respect at Hunnyhill

• Anti-bullying

• E-safety learning

• Charity support e.g. Children in Need

• Diversity within our planned curriculum

• Proud to Belong Curriculum

• Religious Education Curriculum

• Assemblies

• Cultural art

 

Sadly, no school can guarantee that there will never be instances which are contrary to this value. At Hunnyhill Primary, such instances are extremely rare and are treated very seriously.

 

Extremism

Something which is clearly not part of any British or European value is extremism. It is important to remember that whilst the threat from so-called Islamic State has been a focus in the Counter Terrorism and Security Act, the Prevent Duty is clear that extremism of all kinds should be tackled too. In England, far right groups such as Britain First and the English Defence League need to be tackled, too.

 

Extremism is not a new topic in education, but schools have a relatively new statutory duty to pay “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.

Read the government’s Prevent duty guidance and its guidance for schools.