Modern British Values
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
CONSIDER
The school prepares pupils for life in modern Britain effectively, developing their understanding of the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance and respect.
Abbeyfields vision is to nurture today’s young people and inspire tomorrow’s leaders, we understand that character education is every bit as crucial to our children’s development as academic success. Our Ready, Respectful and Safe values are designed to actively promote and complement the five fundamental British values identified by the Department for Education:
We teach our children the importance of being kind, compassionate and respectful to everyone that they meet, irrespective of their faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class or any other perceived differences. Through our community service and projects, our pupils meet inspirational people from a diverse spectrum of backgrounds, beliefs and cultures, and are encouraged to embrace all that life in modern Britain has to offer.
Our Vision
Abbeyfields Intent
Democracy
One principle of democracy is that it allows people to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
Children progressively learn about our political and legal system through watching Newsround, discussions and debating in class. Children also learn how they can influence politics as children and as they become adults. Links are made with the Royal Family and the role they play in our democracy and children learn about the impact of other monarchs in History and English.
Once the Abbeyfields MPs are established, the council groups meets every month with an agreed agenda.
Any child can bring an item to be placed on the agenda for discussion but the key focus areas are school priorities and school development, supporting charities and environment issues such as climate change.
Democracy
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
AMPs Debate - Question of the week Pupil, parent, staff surveys Academy Council Parent representatives - staff and pupil attendance Errol’s Garden *Page 89 - Working together | |||||
Voting for stories to be read, favourite foods and colours Choosing and voting for your own learning | Voting for stories to be read, favourite foods, colours and more Choosing and voting for your own learning | Voting stations Discussions for monitors in class | Voting stations Discussions for monitors in class English - quizzes | Voting stations Voting for class monitors English - reports | Voting stations Voting for class and school monitors English Text - Zoo - Dilema Newspaper reporters Geography - Save our planet |
The Rule of Law
At Abbeyfields, we are very conscious that an important part of our work is to create respectful, caring, empathetic, law abiding members of a future community. To this end, it is really important that children learn about how society operates and the importance of being able to live in a way that does not negatively affect others.
All of the children receive Ready, Respectful, Safe teaching at the beginning of every year (and throughout) to remind them about how we must behave in school. Every school year, at the start of term, we have a major focus on Ready, Respectful, Safe, citizenship, school rules and behaviour expectations. Children learn about the parts that we play in society and how our actions affect those around them.
Rule of Law
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
Pictorol rules Story - What if Everybody did that? | Pictorial rules Story - You get what you get | Pictorial Laws | History - Grace Darling Lord Armstrong | History - Ancient Greece | History - The Roman Empire and the impact on Britain English - Beowolf History - Emily-Wilding- Davison |
Individual Liberty
All children participate in PSHE lessons to understand equality and human rights, respect and dignity, rights, choices, consent and individuality as well as having values and principles. This learning is supplemented through our SMART Week each year when all aspects of British Values are taught and reinforced. Ready, Respectful and Safe are also our core words that are embedded into the Abbeyfields ethos and all children are able to work towards a ‘Headteacher Award in The Golden Book’ to show that they understand these values.
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
English - Zog and the flying Doctors | Games - Team games and making the right choice | English - Hansel and Gretel | English - The Boy at the back of the class |
Mutual Respect
Respect is one of our core values, and we define this as simply, “treating others as we wish to be treated.” This is evidenced in the charity work and community service projects our pupils undertake for the benefit of people who are experiencing the effects of food poverty, loneliness and isolation; our zero-tolerance approach to bullying; the strong sense of community and camaraderie felt by all of our pupils; and the high standards that characterise our teaching and learning environments.
Pupils are encouraged to communicate openly and honestly, and to listen to – and respect – the views of others, even in instances where disagreements arise. We expect all pupils in leadership roles, as well as our staff members, to model exemplary behaviour and conduct themselves in a manner that commands the respect worthy of someone in a position of authority.
Assemblies and class work are designed to highlight the diverse nature of British society and the right for each person to be respected for their choices. We teach pupils that they should never judge a person, and encourage them to become compassionate, open-minded and accepting.
Mutual Respect
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
Charity work Community support Food bank Buddy bench PSHE | |||||
Not Now Bernard | Odd Dog Out | The Bad Tempered Ladybird Barbra throws a wobbler | The Lonely Beast | The Abominables | Pinocchio |
Tolerance and respect of different cultures and religions
All years groups study a range of religions. Children need to learn how to show respect for others and understand that difference is not only acceptable, but welcome. Children know that everyone is welcome in our school.
Our curriculum ensures that each year group have to study Christianity and progressively more challenging ideas and they also have an additional religion to study and to compare and contrast.
We use messages from ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ to do annual work with children around tolerance and respect. Daily assembly and class work also ensure that this message is constantly reinforced.
Children learn about key figures in history who have contributed to positive changes to society and consider how they can emulate these ideas. Children have a lot of opportunities for learning about Great Britain and the wider world around us.
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
SACRE RE MTPs RE Assemblies | |||||
To enable the children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence
Abbeyfields Implementation
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
Recognition board (Proud Walls) Achievement Assembly Praise and acknowledge Realistic expectations Embrace a Growth Mindset Increase a sense of ownership Belonging to a class, year group, key stage and school | |||||
To enable the children to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of Britain
Abbeyfields Implementation
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
To encourage the children to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely
Abbeyfields Implementation
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
Visits to St Christophers and Renwick House Litter picking Outdoor carol service for residents | |||||
To enable the children to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in Britain
Abbeyfields Implementation
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
FOAS events and support Visit to St Mary’s Church Visit from library services | |||||
To further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures
Abbeyfields Implementation
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
Letterbox Library Assemblies Teaching about the world Traditions and celebrations Tasting different foods Learning a different language Being a good role model | |||||
Celebrating Chinese New Year through role play and toys | Christianity Muslim | ||||
To encourage respect for other people
Abbeyfields Implementation
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
To encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in Britain
Abbeyfields Implementation
Nursery | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
What law would you make? Voting in class Debate Club (Year 4) | |||||
To conclude...
British values are ingrained in everything we do and represent all that we strive to achieve in our vision to nurture today’s young people and inspire tomorrow’s leaders. We encourage our children to live a life characterised and enriched by the values of Ready, Respectful, Safe and we hope that these tenets will continue to inform the children’s choices, actions and behaviours long after they leave school, enabling them to make a positive impact on society.