SMSC & British Values

Intent

At Hawes Down Primary School, we take very seriously our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain. Our school reflects British Values in all that we do. We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British society and to the world. We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world.  

The Department for Education states 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 Department for Education defines British Values as follows:

• Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process
• Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England
• Support for equality of opportunity for all
• Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law
• Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs

Implementation

We ensure through the experiences we provide at our school that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide enriching opportunities for furthering understanding of these concepts. In particular, our RE, PSHE/P4C lessons provide excellent opportunities to deepen and develop their knowledge and perceptions. Throughout their time at Hawes Down children are equipped for the next stage of their lives and embrace these concepts with enthusiasm demonstrating a good understanding of their application to their own lives.

Impact

Though their learning journey at our school children are equipped for the next stage of their lives and embrace the British Values enthusiasm demonstrating a good understanding of their application to their own lives.