Greengate Lane Academy Astrea Academy Trust
Our promotion of British values in school
The government set out their definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. These were reinforced in September 2014 due to recent events. These new regulations will sit alongside the requirements of the Equalities Act, which also applies to all types of school.
Schools will be expected to focus on, and be able to show, how our work with pupils is effective in embedding fundamental British values.
Promoting British values at Greengate Lane Academy
We agree with the Department for Education’s ‘fundamental British values’:
1. Democracy
2. The rule of law
3. Individual liberty
4. Mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
At Greengate Lane Academy, children will encounter these principles throughout everyday school life through our promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cultural education which is taught across the school’s curriculum and supports the development of the whole child. These values and attitudes are promoted by all staff and provide a model of behaviour for our pupils.
Listed below are some examples of how we promote these values in our school community:
Democracy
Pupil voice is significant in regards to life at Greengate Lane Academy. We encourage pupils to use their pupil voice to share ideas and concerns and be involved in decision making that affects the whole school. Our pupil elected school council plays a strong role in our school. Pupils vote for their class councillors and experience a democratic system where school council representatives share their views on school improvement and what they would do to make the school a better place. Pupil questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year, as part of our monitoring cycle. We know that the formation of the school council and the active participation of our pupils will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.
The Rule of Law
Our children will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. We want our pupils to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the neighbourhood or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to.
This understanding of the importance of rules will be consistently reinforced through assemblies and our curriculum. The involvement of our pupils in the creation of the school rules helps them to understand the reasons behind the rules and the consequences if they are broken. Through philosophical enquiry in our P.S.H.E., we allow opportunity to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so that children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Our school also has links with the local Police and local PCSOs visit regularly to raise awareness on specific issues. In Year 6, our pupils have the opportunity to visit Crucial Crew and take part in real life scenarios involving Police, the law courts and fire and safety.
Individual Liberty
We invest a great deal of time in creating a positive culture in our school, so that children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. We offer a range of clubs which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our Online Safety and P.S.H.E. sessions, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. At Greengate Lane Academy, we believe that valuing choice and freedom in daily school life will foster a value for individual liberty as the children embark upon their adult lives.
Mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
Mutual respect is at the core of our school life. Children learn to treat each other and staff with great respect. The values of mutual respect can be seen in all areas of school life; pupils are encouraged to promote each other, to respect the adults they interact with and also to respect the world around them. Our PSHE, R.E History and Geography curriculums have units that specifically aim to teach these skills but we believe it is modelled by everything we do and everybody we talk to.
At Greengate Lane, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. We strongly believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.