Teaching British values at our school is an important way to enable students to embrace the key values that they need to be equipped for life in modern British society. students at our school develop self-knowledge, are better able to make the right choices and make contributions to the wider school and their community by studying and promoting the British values of: democracy; the rule of law; individual liberty; mutual respect; and acceptance for those with different faiths and beliefs. 

The DfE has recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and acceptance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these five values will be reiterated this academic year.

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated by the Prime Minister this year. At St Paul's,  these values, alongside our Christian Values that underpin our Trust Deed, are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy:

Children learn to understand and value the democratic process right from the start of their school life. They have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Pupil Council and Pupil questionnaires.  Older children hold positions of responsibility throughout the school.  These children are elected by the other children in some cases.  Our school behaviour policy involves a strong sense of choice in actions and subsequent consequences of these choices.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of Laws ( rules that everyone must keep) whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. 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 people who help us to carry out these laws within our school and wider community are regular parts of our curriculum & calendar and help reinforce this message. 

Individual Liberty:

Within school, children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for young children to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect:

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy revolves around the value of 'Respect', and children have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

As a Christian school we have a responsibility to promote a Christian ethos in a context of individual choice, respect and tolerance of other faiths and other 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. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.