Latimer Primary School actively promotes British Values. As defined by the government 2011 Prevent Strategy, these are the values of:
• The rule of law
• Individual Liberty
• Mutual Respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Actively promoting also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views. At Latimer Primary School our values of tolerance and respect permeate all areas of school life and are reflected by the schools simple truths and the 4L of ‘Learning to Live Together’.
Pupils can develop an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process.
• Latimer Primary School has an active elective school council which meets weekly to discuss issues raised. The council are able to make their own decisions on school improvements and is genuinely able to effect change within the school. Every child on the student council is voted in by their class. The school council is currently working towards the UNICEF Rights of the Child Award.
• Children have an annual questionnaire where they are able to put forward their views about the school.
• Year 6 children have the opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament and take part in a school election campaign as part of their democracy topic. This topic focuses on the history of parliament and how pupils can contribute to a democratic society.
The rule of Law
Pupils develop an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety.
Pupils develop an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence;
• The importance of laws and rules are consistently reinforced in the classroom, as well as through school assemblies. Pupils are taught to understand the need for laws - that they are there for individual protection, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws and rules are broken.
• Pupils follow a positive behaviour policy and clearly understand the rewards and sanctions that are used. Assemblies and discussions in class focus on recognising right from wrong and visits from the Police and Fire Service help to reinforce these messages.
• Pupils are encouraged to be independent learners and encouraged to make choices, within a safe and supportive environment. Pupils are encouraged to understand their personal freedoms and are taught how to use these rights to the best effect. Pupils regularly hold fundraising events to support charities, whether local, national or global.
• The Simple Truth of ‘I will cross the road for you’ and ‘I take responsibility for myself and others’ together with the 4L of ‘Learning to Live Together', reinforces children’s understanding of how to be considerate to others and to live in a tolerant and supportive community.
• The E-safety strand of the computing curriculum enables pupils to make choices in a safe manner, whilst the Religious Education Curriculum encourages pupils to ask what they have learnt and what they personally believe about religion.
Pupils have an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination
• Latimer School curriculum is underpinned through the ‘4Ls’. The 4Ls are taken from UNESCO’s ‘four pillars of learning’ and reflect the school’s aim to deliver learning in holistic ways to our children. The 4Ls are ‘learning to know’, ‘learning to do’, ‘learning to be’ and ‘learning to live together’. These are shared with the children through assemblies, which celebrate achievement in one of the four areas each week.
• The Simple Truths underpin every aspect of school life, including the school’s overarching aims, curriculum design and its behaviour policy, and are promoted to children and staff alike.
• The Simple Truths are ‘I take responsibility for myself and others’; ‘I will cross the road for you’; ‘you are no better or worse than I am’; and ‘I take pride in always doing my best’. Children and staff at Latimer get on exceptionally well with each other and the school’s Simple Truths provide a robust and supportive framework for encouraging all to develop and maintain excellence in social responsibility.
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
Pupils develop an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
Pupils understand that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.
• At Latimer Primary School pupils learn to understand their place in a culturally diverse society. This is achieved through our Religious Education curriculum and reinforced through the 4Ls and Simple Truths.
• Assemblies and class work promote the diversity of society and the right for each person to be respected and valued equally regardless of ability, gender, faith, heritage or race. Members of different faiths or religions are invited to school to share their knowledge and enhance learning within assemblies and in class.
• The children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths as part of their religious education curriculum.