British Values

As well as promoting good social and moral values within school, we also promote the following fundamental British values: Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual liberty, Mutual respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

At Dickens Heath, we reinforce these values regularly in the following ways:

Democracy

Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard in school. The school also carries out regular questionnaires with the pupils to ascertain their thoughts and feelings about our school. The findings are shared with staff and Governors and form part of the school's self-evaluation and future planning. School councillors are elected democratically, voting in each class at the beginning of each year.

Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those in class, the school or the country are reinforced in school regularly through the SMSC whole school curriculum overview and whole school assembly. Across the school and the EYFS, there is a clear code of conduct with rules agreed by the pupils. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind school rules and national laws that protect us, look after us and govern us. We discuss with the children and make clear the consequences when rules in school and laws of the land are broken. We arrange visitors to speak with the children such as the Police to discuss Road safety, Bikeability, Fire safety, Stranger Danger and the NSPCC.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make personal choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate boundaries for young children to make choices safely including online.

Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through the E-safety curriculum. Children also have the freedom of choice in respect of extra-curricular clubs that they can get involved in, whether they are before or after school.

Mutual Respect

Part of our school ethos and positive behaviour policy has revolved around core values such as respect. Our values are reflected in our school rules, display, newsletters and website and in the curriculum where opportunities arise. Where pupils show good core values or mutual respect they may well be awarded class dojo and a Headteacher award. Family Captains remind children in their house-family of good core values of behaviour in school and towards others. During assemblies, we focus on core values and each week, children are invited to take part in discussion about certain values or topics of an SMSC nature/interest and are given the opportunity to express their opinion on what these values are like within our school and suggest possible improvements.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

This is achieved through enhancing children's understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Collective Worship is planned termly to recognise key dates within different faiths and cultures. Assemblies are followed up and supported by learning in PSHE and RE. Where possible, we use personal experiences and examples of members of different faiths as a way of sharing their knowledge to enhance learning within our school.

We participate in great British events such as the jubilee celebrations, elections, cultural weeks and remembrance events.

On a more general level, the school undertakes assemblies which uphold traditional values of empathy, respect and tolerance. These are also taught within formal PSHE and RE lessons and on an informal nature throughout the school days.