British Values
Warwick Road Primary is in an area which is diverse and we are proud to promote and celebrate our different backgrounds and beliefs. As a school, we value and celebrate the heritages of everybody. Alongside this, we value and celebrate being part of Britain. In general terms, this means that we celebrate traditions, such as customs in the course of the year, for example, Remembrance during the Autumn term, and a trip to a pantomime around Christmastime.
Children, parents and staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. Democracy is central to how we operate. An obvious example is our School Council. The election of the School 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 for their representative. Made up of two representatives from each class, the School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes. The Council are actively involved in recruitment and in providing teachers with feedback.
Other examples of ‘pupil voice’ are:
- children agree their 'Class Rules' and the rights associated with these; all children contribute to the drawing up of these rules. These rules are a set of principles that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.
- children have the opportunity to nominate and vote for others, for example, at the beginning of each academic year, two pupils from each class are voted to be school council representatives.
- children are asked to respond and reflect on the teaching and learning
Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, 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.
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
- during Religious Education, when rules for particular faiths are reflected upon
- during other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules – in a sports lesson, for example.
