Preparing children for life in Modern Britain and promoting
British Values
We agree with the Department of Education’s definition of fundamental British Values :
• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
We believe it is incredibly important that these British Values permeate through every school in the country. At Horsley School, these values are encountered throughout our everyday school life and in particular, through our promotion of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural understanding.
We believe that our Christian identity plays an important role in upholding British Values and indeed human values within our school community. Our values are underpinned in our school vision statement and within our curriculum, which correlates well with British Values. Below is just a snap shot of how we promote these values in our school community:
Democracy
Pupil voice plays a big part in life at Horsley School. Our pupil elected School Council play a strong role in our school. They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making Horsley School a better place to learn. Pupils have input in their learning and what they would like to learn which promotes pupil voice. Pupil questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. 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 pupils 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 is 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 rules and the consequences if rules are broken. We provide an opportunity to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community including police, ex-pupils, local artists, the fire brigade and many more. We believe that clear explanations and real life stories emphasise the importance of the Rule of Law for our pupils.
Individual Liberty
We invest a lot of time in creating a positive culture in our school, so children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. In lessons, learning tasks are sometimes left for the child to decide upon. We encourage children to choose the task that will challenge them, giving them more freedom to determine their own learning. We offer a range of clubs which the children have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. At Horsley, 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
Our school vision includes the statements below:
Our pupils learn together with absolute respect for each other. We change talk partners often and every child knows that we respect and appreciate each other; no matter what differences may exist. Mutual respect is at the core of our school life.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Whilst we are a Church of England School, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. Parents and leaders of different faiths are welcomed to the school to share their beliefs, while we also visit places of worship. At Horsley, 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.
• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
We believe it is incredibly important that these British Values permeate through every school in the country. At Horsley School, these values are encountered throughout our everyday school life and in particular, through our promotion of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural understanding.
We believe that our Christian identity plays an important role in upholding British Values and indeed human values within our school community. Our values are underpinned in our school vision statement and within our curriculum, which correlates well with British Values. Below is just a snap shot of how we promote these values in our school community:
Democracy
Pupil voice plays a big part in life at Horsley School. Our pupil elected School Council play a strong role in our school. They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making Horsley School a better place to learn. Pupils have input in their learning and what they would like to learn which promotes pupil voice. Pupil questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. 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 pupils 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 is 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 rules and the consequences if rules are broken. We provide an opportunity to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community including police, ex-pupils, local artists, the fire brigade and many more. We believe that clear explanations and real life stories emphasise the importance of the Rule of Law for our pupils.
Individual Liberty
We invest a lot of time in creating a positive culture in our school, so children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. In lessons, learning tasks are sometimes left for the child to decide upon. We encourage children to choose the task that will challenge them, giving them more freedom to determine their own learning. We offer a range of clubs which the children have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. At Horsley, 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
Our school vision includes the statements below:
- Our Christian values are central in enabling every child to develop and feel accepted as an individual within the school community, and to prepare them for their future lives
- We offer a rich and inspiring learning experience so that all children thrive in their creativity and relationships, and have respect for others and their environment
Our pupils learn together with absolute respect for each other. We change talk partners often and every child knows that we respect and appreciate each other; no matter what differences may exist. Mutual respect is at the core of our school life.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Whilst we are a Church of England School, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. Parents and leaders of different faiths are welcomed to the school to share their beliefs, while we also visit places of worship. At Horsley, 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.
