At Ganton School we uphold and teach pupils about the British Values which are defined as:
- Democracy
- Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs.
These values are actively planned for, and explicitly taught, through our curriculum. They are implicit within our school’s ethos and values and are also modelled in the way in which we run our school demonstrating respect, tolerance and democracy for all.
We take the opportunity to actively promote British Values through our daily assemblies and also our whole school systems and structures, such as electing and running our School Council, House Leaders and so on. We ensure that our curriculum planning and delivery secure real opportunities for exploring these values. Actively promoting British Values also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist views’.
At Ganton School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy:
Democracy is an important value at our school and is evident as a UNICEF Rights Respecting school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council. The elections of members of the School Council is based on pupil votes.
Children recommend each other for awards. Children work together and agree their positive behaviour codes that all of the community work and live by. In addition we follow current affairs programmes where appropriate through assemblies and through the curriculum where we can teach democracy through events such as the General Election.
The Rule of Law:
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Our Good Behaviour code is clear and gives children and staff clear guidance of the expectations for good behaviour.
Playground rules are simple but explicit. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibility that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the police, fire service, ambulance etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help to reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty:
Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices at our school, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our children to make choices safely, through the provision of a secure environment and planned curriculum.
Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these responsibly, for example through our e-safety teaching and PSHE lessons. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. joining extra-curricular clubs, choose the level of challenge in some lessons and are becoming increasingly involved in child – led learning, e.g. planning and delivering child led assemblies.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those Different Faiths and Beliefs:
Our school ethos and Good Behaviour policy are based around our core values at school and embody Christian values such as ‘respect’ and ‘responsibility’ and these values determine how we live as a community at Ganton School.
Assemblies are based on Values for Life and are central to how we expect our community to live together. Anti-bullying assemblies and programmes on human rights teaching, all reflect our commitment to mutual respect. Equally, our charity work helps to reinforce our links with our local community. Children and adults alike are challenged if they are disrespectful in any way. Values are highly visible round the school and can be seen as part of our agreed Good Behaviour code.
Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity in our local community. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. We encourage children to research and discover differences and similarities between us and our European neighbours. Likewise we build curriculum opportunities, and use events such as the Olympic Games and World Cup, to study and learn about life and culture in other countries.
