Promoting British Values

What are ‘Core British Values’?

Schools are required to provide for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. As part of this requirement, schools are expected to actively promote fundamental British values.
The government defines these as:

Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
Mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

What does this mean for my child?

Schools’ programmes for learning about fundamental British Values are designed to prepare children and young people for life in modern Britain.

This includes helping pupils understand:

The importance of tackling discrimination
How we can influence decision-making by taking part in democratic processes like voting and petitioning
Our freedom under British law to choose different faiths and beliefs
That the law is there to keep us safe

Courthouse Green's aims to reflect British Values in all that we do. We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and understanding adults who make a positive contribution to British society and beyond. We encourage our children to be unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world.
At Courthouse Green we actively promote British Values through or school values (as seen above) and in the following ways:

Democracy

Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our school council. Children in each class vote for the children they want to represent them on school Council. Children are consulted and contribute to the development of school policies and initiatives. For example through the school council our children have been consulted on the school’s values and the development of the curriculum.

The Rule of Law

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, the importance they have and the role they hold in promoting and supporting a fair and inclusive society in school and beyond. Our children learn that Laws help us to grow and protect us, the consequence when laws are broken and the responsibilities that all hold in maintaining the rule of law. Visits from authorities (Police, Fire Service and Magistrates Courts) are a regular part of our school calendar.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for pupils, whatever their age or need to make choices, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education.
Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are regularly supported to understand how to exercise their freedoms safely. At Courthouse Green we support our children through ‘Online safety’, a dedicated pastoral team, PSHE, Thrive and Parent child workshops throughout the year.

Mutual Respect

Courthouse Green is fortunate to be located at the centre of a diverse community.
Our aims are firmly based on the value of community and respect, which permeates all aspects of school life. Supported by our school core values our Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. At our school assemblies are regularly planned to promote and celebrate a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE, PSHE and topic teaching reinforce this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.

At Courthouse Green, we will actively challenge children, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.

Please see our latest Talk Tuesday bulletins in our Oracy section.

Anti-Racist Pledge

“For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it’ Amanda Gorman – The Hill We Climb

We will collaborate with each other to ensure that everyone knows and believes that they belong here. We will show kindness and respect to everyone as we are all equal, no matter our faith, our race, our ethnicity or heritage.

We will strive to improve our communities by sharing our own learning with people so that they can learn as well.

We will act with responsibility and pride whenever we see injustice and we will make a stand, speak up and call people out. Silence in never an option.

We want everyone to feel safe and that our school is a Sanctuary for all – it does not matter to us how you arrived here, just that you are part of our school and community.

We will strive to improve the diversity amongst staff employed to work at our school; partnering with organisations that will help us to reach talent from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds.