British Values Statement

The Department for Education state that there is a need "to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs." 

The government has set out its definition of British values in the ‘Prevent Strategy’ and emphasises that schools are required to ensure these values are taught across the United Kingdom.

At Townlands C of E Primary Academy we have always recognised the importance of educating our children so that they understand the multi-cultural and multi- faith Britain we live in today. We ensure our pupils are ready to contribute to an every changing society.

At Townlands C of E Primary Academy we reinforce these values regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is embedded through our R-Time programme, pupils are taught to respect the right of every individual and to have their opinions and voices heard alongside respect for themselves and others around them. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our . The elections of the School Council members are based on pupil votes, reflecting our electoral system and demonstrating democracy. Questionnaires also gather a wide range of views. Our robust behaviour policy involves both rewards and sanctions; pupils are clear about the expectations, hence our Ofsted grade. We always seek to offer opportunities to ensure our school community can participate in a democratic process, for example gathering the views when developing our new mission statement.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, is consistently reinforced through our curriculum, behaviour system and assemblies. Each class discuss the school rules to ensure they are clearly understood by all, this ensures that every pupil is able to learn in a safe environment. We expect pupils to behave impeccably when they are on trips outside of school and evaluations suggest that this is the case. Pupils are taught, through our behaviour system, what happens if they break the rules and that the wrong choices have consequences. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are regular parts of our curriculum and help reinforce that laws of the land are in place to protect us. 

Individual Liberty

Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our teaching of e-safety and R Time lessons. Whether it is through the curriculum or through participation in our numerous extra- curricular activities, our pupils are given the freedom to make choices. Pupils are also given the opportunity to be engaged in their learning through the use of personal negotiated targets and self-assessment of their work.

Mutual Respect

Respect is one of the core values that is evident at our school; this can be seen in lessons in every classroom and around the school. Pupils are taught our core values through religious education, assemblies, R Time lessons and school rules. Additional support is provided for individual pupils, through our Emotional Literacy Support programme delivered by a Higher Level Teaching Assistant and also our Family Support Worker. The support helps to develop self-esteem and to give pupils strategies to help improve their respect of themselves and others. The core value of Respect at Townlands C of E Primary Academy underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom. 

Tolerance of those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our core value of respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs. We enhance pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through assemblies, a broad approach to religious education; P.S.H.E. work and end of term treats such as African Dancing and Steel Pans. Pupils celebrate Diwali and Chinese New Year. Through our RE curriculum, we organise inter faith visits to a Gurdwara, a Cathedral and a Jain temple to educate our pupils about some of the different faiths in Leicestershire. We have whole school daily acts of worship where we share ideas, events, music and stories across a range of faiths to promote the values in a multi-cultural society.