British Values at Mayplace
Since September 2014, England’s 20,000 primary and secondary schools have been required to actively promote tolerance, fairness, respect for other faiths, and the rule of law and democracy.
At Mayplace Primary School we uphold and teach pupils about British Values which are defined as:
- Rule of Law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
We promote values through our four school values:
Love of Learning, Leading Learning, Team and Belonging
We value the backgrounds of all our pupils and families and we undertake a variety of events and lessons to celebrate these including collective acts of worship. We have found this approach to be enriching for everyone as it teaches tolerance and respect for the differences in our community and the wider world.
Underpinning all this, are a range of curriculum topics, which have strong links to the seven school values. In following the new RE curriculum, all pupils will learn in detail about key faiths and through this learning they will be taught to show respect for those faiths. Through History pupils are taught about significant periods in British History and are encouraged to identify these in chronological order.
Children at Mayplace proudly uphold our values of values of ‘Team’, ‘Belonging’, ‘Leading Learning’, and ‘Loving Learning’. At Mayplace we ensure that children are acutely aware of their responsibilities to uphold our values. Children also understand that their behaviour and regard for the rules extends beyond the school itself, such as acting as school ambassadors while on school trips.
Pupil’s Positions of Responsibility
Mayplace has a School Council to which members are voted each year by their peers. Children from Year Two to Year Six are represented. Candidates complete an application form outlining why they think they would be a good member for our School Council. They present their manifesto to their class and the children decide who will best represent them through a fair ballot. Children understand that a place on the School Council comes with the responsibility of representing the needs and interests of their classmates.
We encourage children to be leaders and we have a team of Year Six Leaders. Year Six Leaders include our Head Boy and Girl; Deputy Head Boy and Girl; Head of School Council; Ground Squad Manager; Head of Food Squad and prefects who undertake different responsibilities. As a British Value, Democracy is taught during assemblies and during PSHE sessions. Children have opportunities to express their views in school through Pupil Voice interviews.
Mayplace is a safe place for children. We strive to cultivate an atmosphere in which children can make choices about their school life in a supportive environment. We prepare them for making their own risk assessments for their later lives in modern Britain through sex and drug education.
From the very start of their education at Mayplace children are encouraged to be autonomous by giving them ownership of their own learning. Children regularly have next steps shared with them, whether verbally or with written feedback in books so they know exactly what they can do to progress. Children learn in a safe nurturing environment, with clear boundaries, within which they may make choices.
Our E-Safety Committee lead assemblies where they inform children to understand how to exercise their rights and personal freedoms safely. They run drop in sessions for children and keep parents updated at Parent Forum sessions.
Our values of ‘Team’ and ‘Belonging’ underpin mutual respect. Children live these values in their daily school life. The children and all school staff understand our values and work in a manner that encourages everyone to achieve to their best through our values ‘Leading Learning’ and ‘Loving Learning’.
Assemblies regularly include ‘Respect’ and pupils have been part of discussions related to what this means and how we show it in different contexts. When a child does well, their achievement is celebrated and rewarded either by being nominated as a Star of the Week in achievement assemblies, receiving a postcard home or by being entered into the Golden Book. Learning and effort are highly respected throughout the whole school.
At Mayplace we promote a balanced approach to Religious Education that is broadly Christian, but takes account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Britain. Through regular whole-school assemblies we celebrate and learn about numerous religious festivals that happen throughout the school year. We have links in the local community that support teaching of different faiths and beliefs. We respond to national and international events at an age appropriate level. Children are explicitly taught about different faiths in Religious Education lessons and during whole school assemblies. Tolerance and understanding are explored during circle time lessons. Through these lessons children develop respect for others; developing strong and lasting relationships that promote cohesion. We are lucky that we are rich in both cultures and languages, with twenty one home languages represented.