Offmore Primary School

British Values

The Department for Education have  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 tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

We are committed to promoting fundamental British values through a wide range of explicit and implicit educational activities and the articulation of, and demonstration of these values. British values are promoted through our social, moral, spiritual and cultural, (SMSC) education which permeates through the schools’ assemblies, curriculum, ethos, student voice, teaching and learning and its commitment to inclusion.

Our approach to promoting fundamental British values follows equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar.

At Offmore Primary School, we recognise the multicultural, multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom and understand the crucial role our schools play in promoting these values. As a school that serves a wider community that is diverse, we take our responsibility to promote community cohesion, generate a respect for difference and individual rights seriously. We believe it is incredibly important that these British Values permeate through all aspects of school and children will encounter these values throughout our everyday school life.

Our curriculum plans outline how we make British Values intrinsic to all learning. Our values are displayed throughout the school and are celebrated by all.

 

The Heart of Offmore

 

Democracy

 

  • We celebrate democracy with our very own elections. The children campaign to get themselves elected to the school council and for the role of house captain and vice- captain. Children in all year groups understand the importance of their vote and understand they need to listen carefully and give real thought to who they vote for.In establishing their own class rules, children understand they have to listen to the majority and may sometimes have to compromise their ideals. 

Individual Liberty

All students have an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of individual liberty through:

  • The school’s Behaviour for Learning policy, including a clear expectation for all pupils
  • A system of pastoral care, guidance and support that all children understand they can access 
  • A set of Offmore values that promotes different views, opinions and ideas and values each of them equally
  • Participation in a wide variety of school and local community charitable events and opportunities for volunteering to serve the community
  • Students have key roles and responsibilities in school, such as Eco-committee, Play leaders, School Council Representatives , House Captains and Sports Crew
  • All  students 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 students to make choices safely, including those relating to e-safety and extremism
  • Through our curricular clubs and opportunities, students are given the freedom to make choices.

On Tuesday 8th March, some local police officers visited years 5 and 6 to talk about International Women's Day and women in British policing. The main theme of the assembly was equality and the children learned about the types of jobs within the police, highlighting that there is no job that a woman can't do. They learned about the history of women in policing and a timeline of when women had the opportunities to do jobs that were the same as men. The biggest surprise for the children was when they learned that it took nearly 200 years from when the police were founded (in 1829) for there to be a female Metropolitan Police Commissioner (2017!) The children enjoyed their visit from the police and came away with lots of questions and discussion points around equality, discrimination and stereotypes, which they will be exploring through more class assemblies.

The Rule of Law

All students have an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the rule of law through:

  • The school’s Behaviour  policy, including a clear code of conduct and expectations for all pupils.
  • A robust anti-bullying culture 
  • A comprehensive system of rewards, recognition and sanctions
  • The PSHEe and Citizenship curriculum focusing on the rule of law
  • Values-based school assemblies 
  • Restorative approaches to conflict
  • Effective links with West Mercia Police and other authorities-including our Police cadets
  • Offmore Values
  • Class rules developed by the children

    Mutual respect

    All pupils have an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of mutual respect through:
    • The school’s Behaviour for Learning policy, including a clear code of conduct and expectations for all  pupils.
    • An outstanding system of pastoral care, guidance and support.
    • A teaching and learning  environment based on mutual respect
    • A robust anti-bullying culture linked to Offmore values
    • A comprehensive system of rewards, recognition and sanctions
    • A curriculum where all pupils have an opportunity to express their views in a safe environment where the  thoughts and answers of all are respected
    • Our PSHEe and Citizenship curriculum, including Sex and Relationship Education
    • Values-based school assemblies including visitors and the community
    • Our School Council, Prefects, House Captains, and Sports Leaders promote mutual respect between students throughout the school community

Tolerance of different beliefs, cultures and faiths

All students have an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the tolerance of different beliefs, cultures and faiths through:

  • Spiritual development through a comprehensive PSHE and Citizenship curriculum, value-based assemblies 
  • Students are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school and celebrate festivities  throughout the year
  • The Religious Education curriculum,  provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures
  • An experience of a wide variety of cultures through curriculum themes
  • Sporting and House competitions that helps to instil ‘fair play’ and engender a ‘team spirit’
  • Links with other local, national and international organisations, including other schools and community partners
  • Parent partnership group meetings held throughout the year

Please see the link below to explore the ‘Promoting Fundamental British Values through SMSC’

Promoting Fundamental British Values