The DfE have reinforced the need to create a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British Values of:
– democracy,
– the rule of law,
– individual liberty,
– mutual respect,
– tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
The Government set out its definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.
At Bowman Academy, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
DEMOCRACY
We are a Rights Respecting school. Each year the pupils decide upon their class rules and the rights and responsibilities associated with these.
Pupils have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have an elected student council on both sites that has the opportunity to meet the Leadership Team once a term. All pupils have the opportunity to talk to senior staff on a regular basis and use these occasions to share their views.
THE RULE OF LAW
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days and through school assemblies.
Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that these involve and the consequences when laws are broken.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY
Within school, pupils 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 pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. 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 and PSHE lessons.
MUTUAL RESPECT
Assemblies regularly cover ‘Respect’ and pupils have been part of discussions 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. When a child does something well, their achievement is celebrated within assemblies.
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. Themed days are planned throughout the year, to make sure that students are able to understand what life is like in different cultures.