Our British Values

The fundamental British Values are:

  • The Rule of Law.

  • Democracy.

  • Individual Liberty.

  • Mutual Respect and Tolerance for Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs and for Those Without Faith.

At Keyingham Primary School, these values are not taught in isolation, but are part of a thread that runs throughout our entire curriculum.  A key part of our plan for education is to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

We help children to remember the British Values through the Helping Hand model.

Click on the dropdown links below to find out more about how these values are lived and learned in our school:

The Rule of Law

  • This is taught to children through school and class rules with clear rewards and consequences set out in our Behaviour Policy.

  • The importance of rules and laws, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices. We consider both our school rules and the rules and laws beyond school.

  • Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves, and the consequences when laws are broken. These values are reinforced in different ways:

    • Visits from authorities such as the police and fire service

    • Bikeability lessons enable children to understand the rules of the road and the potential dangers encountered should they break those rules.

    • During Religion & World View lessons, when rules for particular faiths are thought about

    • During other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules

Democracy

  • Student Council Elections are an excellent way for children to learn first-hand about democracy and the voting process.  Children have representatives from each year group to ensure their voice is heard, ideas put forward and that they are fully involved in the everyday running of the school. The election of the Student Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: candidates make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative, pupils vote in secret etc.  They meet monthly to discuss their annual vision and goals and work closely with our Parish Council and other key partners to achieve great things for their peers in school and the community.

  • During History, we look at different leaders and leadership systems to better discuss and understand their influence on local, British and international historical periods of time.

  • In English, we hold debates on several topics which give children the opportunity to influence the opinions of others and use a democratic process to express their views.

  • Children, parents and staff and all other stakeholders have many opportunities for their voices to be heard at Keyingham Primary School. Democracy is central to our school.

  • Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard.

  • We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.

  • Subject leaders often ask children to share their voice and experiences about their learning.

  • Parents’ opinions are welcomed through methods such as questionnaires, parent’s evenings and opportunities to comment on whole school matters when they arise.

Individual Liberty

  • At Keyingham Primary, children know that they all have the right to learn and grow in confidence.  They understand that their opinion matters and is valued.  They are taught to listen to and respect other peoples’ opinions and values.

  • This is taught on a daily basis through lessons, turn-taking, group and whole-class discussions, teamwork and collaborative tasks.

  • Around school, we display lots of our children’s work across the curriculum.

  • Many children have key roles and responsibilities, for example: Student Council, Eco Warriors, Librarians, Red Caps and Well-being Ambassadors.

  • Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment, we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely; for example:

    • choices about how they can improve their learning

    • choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities

  • Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our PSHE lessons.

  • Our calendar of assemblies is used to both explore and support our shared values. By teaching the children how to manage and understand emotions they will be motivated and equipped to:

    • Be effective and successful learners

    • Make and sustain friendships

    • Deal with and resolve conflict evenly and fairly

    • Solve problems with others by themselves

    • Manage strong feelings such as frustration, anger or anxiety

    • Be able to promote calm and optimistic states that promote the achievement of goals

    • Recover from setbacks and persist in the face of difficulties

    • Work and play cooperatively

    • Compete fairly and win or lose with dignity and respect for all competitors

    • Recognise and stand up for their rights and the rights of others

Mutual Respect and Tolerance for Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs and for Those Without Faith.

  • Our children work as part of whole school teams during the year.  Each child belongs to a house and can earn points for their houses in a number of ways. This encourages them to support their team and be supportive of others.

  • Children learn about a range of festivals over the school year such as Diwali, Chinese New Year and even through our lunchtime menu. We celebrate diversity through dance in PE, religious beliefs throughout History, how religion has travelled around the globe with invaders and settlers.

  • In Geography, we locate a range of different countries to look at their natural and man-made features and discuss their ways of life.

  • In our Religion & World View lessons, we investigate different festivals and celebrations in all religions, creation stories and their beliefs and traditions.

  • In Art we encourage children to work with others through collaboration and group projects. To think about Spiritual development through exploring ideas and feelings, Moral development through how artists have explored ideas through their work, Social development through respecting the ideas of others and Cultural development through the study of artists from differing cultures and the discussion of the pupil’s beliefs and ideas.

  • Through Art and Design children can challenge themselves to improve, reflecting on their own work and that of others in a respectful and kind environment. 

  • In Music, we consider music from cultures around the world.

  • In PSHE, we consider our own individuality and how different communities, religious groups and cultures can come together and learn from each other, and how we should appreciate them. We understand the value the differences and commonalities between people, respecting the rights of others to have beliefs and values different to their own.

  • In English, we read texts from a range of cultures and background and themes from around the world.