'Pupils are respectful and tolerant.'  Ofsted, March 2024

The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated in 2014. The DfE reinforced the need in schools “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.”

At Glen Hills these values are reinforced regularly and developed throughout our school and within the curriculum so they are an intrinsic part of school life. We prepare the children for life in modern Britain by upholding and teaching pupils about British Values as defined by the government.

We help our pupils to become valuable and rounded members of society who treat others with respect and leave school ready for modern Britain. Part of teaching British Values is teaching pupils to be Geographers and to have a good understanding of Britain - where it is in relation to Europe, its coasts, mountains etc and historically to teach our pupils as Historians to study key topics such as 'London's Burning' and significant historical figures. 

See our British Values coverage document below to see how the children are taught British Values at Glen Hills in each year group (explicit teaching links through the Personal, Spiritual, Health and Emotional (PSHE) curriculum and through Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Education (SMSC) and Religious Education (RE)

Democracy

The  Student Council meet regularly to discuss issues raised by the pupils in the school. The School Council has its own budget and they are able to spend and influence decisions to ensure a positive impact on changes within the school.  The council members for each year group are voted for annually in their class (reflecting our British Electoral System), whereby each class can nominate representatives.  Candidates make speeches and pupils vote based on characteristics important for the representative. Pupils vote in secret and a representative is elected.  Pupils and parents have many opportunities for their voices to be heard throughout their time at Glen Hills. Pupils can put their views forward to the Student Council who will decide on which views to act on and which will be in the pupils' best interest. Key agenda items are linked to school priorities around resources, raising money, school development and playground behaviour/equipment/zones. Student Council work together often with Sports Leaders, Mental Health Ambassadors, House Captains and Eco Team.

Pupils in the EYFS help to design their curriculum and all teachers adapt their lessons/teaching where appropriate based on the student voice; as part of our annual subject scrutiny monitoring. Parents' opinions are welcomed through surveys, questionnaires and meetings such as parent's evening.

Each year pupils can nominate and vote for pupils for the following: Student Council, Sports Leaders, House Captains, Mental Health Ambassadors and Eco Team Members.  In addition, children can apply for school jobs across the school and where more than one pupil puts their name forward,  it's decided who will take the role based on a majority rule linked to the merits within the job applications.

There are also school 'worry boxes' throughout school, which are regularly checked by the Pastoral Team, where pupils can express their views and concerns and these will be passed onto the student council where appropriate to action.

The Rule of Law

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class (Classroom Rules and Outside Rules), the school, or the country are consistently reinforced throughout the school days, as well as when dealing with school behaviour (see School Behaviour Policy).  At the start of the school year, we focus on Citizenship, school rules and behaviour expectations and all of the children (and parents/carers) are expected to sign a Home/School Agreement to remind them about what is expected from them, including how they should behave in school.

The rules/laws are regularly addressed in school assemblies, throughout our PSHE/RSE and Route to Resilience Curriculum (R2R). 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 authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this messages and additional lessons such as Bike Ability and First Aid training to help our pupils to stay safe within these laws.  Our RE curriculum teaches of rules of faiths and this links closely to our R2R character muscles and respect for different rules. At the start of the year classes discuss their class and school rules, these agreed rules form the basis of our behaviour sanctions and rewards throughout the school.  In addition there are playground rules linked to ensuring the children can learn and play in a safe and orderly environment, which we focus on with Happy Lunchtimes.

Assemblies set the tone for high expectations, and children work to achieve pompoms for positive behaviour, House Points, Lunchtime Stars and a seat at the Table of Awesomeness, all to reward children for following the school rules and expectations.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make the right 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 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 curriculum. Whether it be through choice of learning challenges, of how they record their work, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs - pupils are given the freedom to make choices.  

Our R2R work covers all aspects on individual liberty such as making and sustaining friendships, dealing effectively with conflict, managing feelings of anger, frustration, anxiety, optimism, resilience, cooperation, respect and tolerance etc.  Key roles in school such as reading buddies, pupil jobs, Sport leaders, Mental Health Ambassadors etc are examples children’s liberties being demonstrated and these roles help pupils to develop and demonstrate their character across the school.  Respect is taught regularly through R2R,  as we should all respect one another as member of the school community.  We celebrate our school environment and take care of it with the help of our pupil jobs such as litter picking squads, planting team, school gardeners etc and our pupils respect others on school trips, Residentials, swimming lessons and visits to the local residential homes.      

​Mutual Respect

As a rights respecting school, mutual respect is at the heart of our values (Route To Resilience (R2R) character muscle. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community should treat each other with respect.  Respect is a key character muscle we work on and discuss regularly at Glen Hills. Tolerance, freedoms and respect are discussed regularly through school assemblies, R2R, PSHE and RE and plays a big part in our community involvement.  We believe staff and children should be respectful and responsible at all times and we celebrate this with our special R2R character celebration awards (and end of year Governor awards). Our pupil jobs and key roles are a clear way we show respect in school - children help to promote the mutual respect when working alongside younger pupils and their peers.

Pupils, parents, visitors and staff are challenged if they are disrespectful in anyway. Values are highly visible around the school, linking closely to our R2R programme, and are also part of our Home/School agreement.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

At Glen Hills,  we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the pupils and staff and the need to show respect for others. Understanding that difference is not only acceptable,  but welcome. Pupils know everyone is welcome in our school. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE, PSHE and R2R teaching reinforce this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within the school. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. In addition across our curriculum in areas such as art, music and english we consider cultures and appreciations from other cultures. We hold themed weeks and celebrate a variety of cultural celebrations. Tolerance, freedoms and respect are discussed regularly through assembles, R2R, PSHE and our RE currriculum and our community involvement and ethos. We help prepare children to be the best versions of themselves they can be, and show respect to one another whatever differences we have.  We celebrate traditions and customs in the course of the year such as Harvest Festival, pantomimes at Christmas, Saints Days and religious festivals such as Diwali, Hanukkah and Easter. Also, we value and celebrate national focuses such as Macmillan Coffee morning, Pink Day for breast cancer, Charity Day (pupils plan, design, resource, sell and raise money for charity with stalls and talent shows), Safer Internet Day, Odd Sock day for Anti-Bullying week, Mental Health Week and so on.

Pupils are encouraged to look after the school building and contents and to see the link between finance and material possessions. They follow the school rules which are displayed throughout the school in relation to school property.

Pupils learn about key figures in history who have contributed to positive change in society and consider how they can emulate these ideas. They have many opportunities for learning about Great Britain and the wider world around us. Pupils are encouraged to volunteer in the community where possible and be involved in many of the community links provided by school. A huge variety of extracurricular activities are available to promote a positive mental attitude and team spirit. Pupils learn about healthy competition and how working together can make us stronger

Actively promoting British Values also means challenging pupils, staff, parents/carers, visitors expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including 'extremist views'.

Protected Characteristics

It is important that all childfren gain an understanding of the world they are growing up in and learn how to live alongside, and show respect for, a diverse range of people.

The Equality Act 2010, identifies the 'protected characteristics' as:

• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex
• secual orientation

​At Glen Hills Primary School, we pride ourselves on having a well-considered approach to the teaching of the protected characteristics.