British Values

How we promote British Values at Hyde Park Junior School
The DFE has recently reinforced the need ‘to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation for 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.’

At Hyde Park Junior School we are dedicated to promoting values which ensure our pupils develop a strong sense of social and moral responsibility which will prepare them for life in modern Britain. We would like to share with our parents how we promote these values.

The school values pupil voice and we ask the pupils about their learning, their concerns and for their ideas about how we can make things better for them. We do this by using pupil questionnaires and through our School Council. At the start of each year children vote for their class representatives through an election process. Through their class representatives children have the opportunity to have their voices heard.

The Rule of Law
We believe in promoting positive behaviour. The children understand the school rules and what happens if these rules are broken. Our behaviour policy is built on the principle that children are responsible for their own actions and choices and that these have consequences. The school sanctions system provides reflection time where pupils are able to think about the impact of their choices. They understand and are able to discuss why there needs to be consequences for those who break the rules or laws. By being immersed in the ethos of the school, our children learn about their responsibility to be law abiding citizens.

Individual Liberty
We believe a school should be a learning community, a place where everyone has the same chance to develop and succeed, where all should aspire to excellence. At our school individuality and difference are celebrated and everyone is valued. 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 and empowering education, we provide boundaries for our children to make choices safely.
During PSHE, e-Safety lessons and Assemblies pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe whilst they exercise their rights and personal freedoms. Safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of life at the school.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance
Our ethos at Hyde Park Junior is based on mutual respect and good manners. Adults actively model respect with one another, and with the children, in how we speak and treat one another. Our school is a diverse community and, through our creative curriculum, we promote an awareness of different faiths and we encourage our pupils to recognise and understand these faiths. All staff model a tolerant and accepting attitude. We use assemblies to raise and discuss issues of bullying and prejudice and reinforce learning during curriculum time.

At Hyde Park Junior School, we will actively challenge pupils, parents or staff who express opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including extremist views. Hyde Park Junior School is currently working towards becoming a UNICEF Rights Respecting School.

British Values through the Curriculum
Interwoven within the curriculum in a range of curriculum areas are planned opportunities to teach the values of our society. Some examples are:

PSHE: How we influence democracy is explored though PSHE and assemblies. This includes looking at historical figures such as Nelson Mandela and Gandhi and exploring the effectiveness of different approaches. The Rule of Law The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country is consistently reinforced at Hyde Park Junior School. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety and PSHE lessons.

Geography: We ensure that children have a better understanding of what Britain is, learning more about its capital cities and counties, its rivers and mountains, where Britain is in relation to the rest of Europe and other countries in the world.

History: Britain and its influence in modern times are aspects woven into our imaginative learning projects

Music: The study of British composers and their influence worldwide.

Art: The study of how British artist influence others around the world.

Religious, Moral & Spiritual Education: At Hyde Park Junior School we actively promotes diversity through celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Through the teaching of RE pupils begin to explore, in order to better understand, religion as complex and individual religious traditions as internally diverse and constantly evolving – not uniform and absolute. Our pupils learn learn to question the accuracy of claims about different faiths, helping to deepen discussion about religion in the public sphere.

Physical Education: Promotion of the concept of “fair play”, following and developing rules, inclusion, celebrating and rewarding success, being magnanimous in defeat and participation in activities that promote kinship and affiliation with others.

Computing: Children are also taught about respect and bullying in the online world also, through our learning platform and though regular e-safety lessons.

Pupil Leadership: Promotion of democratic processes, fostering the concept and application of freedom of speech and group action to address needs and concerns.  Key to this is the concept of holding others to account, including those in positions of influence and authority.

Educational visits: Our broad range of educational visits and experiences outside of the classroom equip our children with the skills to make a positive contribution to their community as equal citizens, as well as being able to look at British heritage in more depth.

Community Events: We work closely with charities and organisations such as the Shekinah Mission in Plymouth