Loughborough CE Primary School

British Values Statement

At Loughborough CE Primary School, we take opportunities to actively promote British Values.  We are committed to serving our community and surrounding areas. We recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom and understand the crucial role our school plays in promoting these values. As a Church of England, stand-alone academy, we are a distinctively Christian school, whilst, like Jesus himself, we aspire to ‘scandalously inclusive’¹.  Children and families from all faiths and none are welcomed, respected and cherished. We are a school for all. 

Actively promoting also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views. At Loughborough CE, values of tolerance and respect permeate all areas of school life. This engenders a climate within which pupils feel safe and secure and facilitates the fulfilment of potential. Pupil voice plays an integral part in driving the school forward and school rules at different levels are seen as the foundation upon which this can be achieved.

We value the diverse ethnic backgrounds of all pupils and families and our curriculum with SMSC embedded, celebrates these. It is a curriculum that teaches elements of democracy, civic responsibility, rules and laws, the monarchy, equality, values and virtues, environmental awareness and understanding of other faiths. We believe that by working in this way, it teaches tolerance and respect for the differences in our community and the wider world.

The following are a selection of activities and external accreditations that are evidence of our commitment to British values (as defined by the Government): 

Democracy

• Children are involved in Democratic processes e.g. voting for the school council and shared rewards.
• The school council itself is led by a member of staff and adheres to democratic processes, reporting its actions to the Governing Body.
• Our school councilors have visited the local council chambers meeting with the mayor to find out about local democratic processes
• The school council has visited the Houses of Parliament as well as meeting with our local MP to find out more about democracy and government
• Pupil and parent questionnaires

The rule of law

• We have links with the local police who come into school to educate the children about upholding  British law and the prosecution service

• We have staff trained in the Think Wise programme.
• 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, visits from and assemblies involving other agencies eg: Police, Fire service & Drug awareness teams help to reinforce this learning
• We have a robust anti-bullying culture and a positive behaviour policy which encourages tolerance and mutual respect.
• We regularly review behaviour incidents in school and share these with key stakeholders.

Individual liberty

• Pupils have key roles and responsibilities in school
• Pupils are actively encouraged to make independent choices with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment.
• Pupils 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
• Through our curriculum, extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
• The aims, ethos and vision statement are embodied in all that we do in school.

Mutual respect

• Part of our  Values curriculum focusses on respect, and as well as being integral to the ethos of our school it is also highlighted in Collective Worship
• Our PSHE curriculum embodies values of Mutual Respect through units of learning such as Relationships and Being a Responsible Citizen.
• Our full time Sports Coach actively promotes an attitude of equality and fairness.
• Our Year 6 and Reception Buddies scheme promotes mutual respect between pupils across different phases of school.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs 

• Our R.E curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures.
• We are proud of our bi-lingual children with English as their additional language
• Our IPC curriculum actively encourages children to engage with international issues, making links between different cultures and communities, to promote tolerance, empathy, compassion and respect
• Visits to different places of worship as well as visits from community figures with different faiths and beliefs embed mutual respect and tolerance
• Outstanding judgement in our most recent SIAMS inspection

^{1  Leicester Board of Education – Vision and Values https://www.leicesterdbe.org/about/our-vision/}