British Values

The government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key British Values are taught in all UK schools. The government set out its definition of British Values in the Prevent Strategy – values of:

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual respect
  • Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

At Ormiston Meadows Academy these values are taught explicitly through Personal, Social, Health and Emotional (PSHE), and Religious Education (RE). We also teach British Values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum. Our school takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through assemblies and whole-school systems and structures such as electing and running a successful School Council and following the weekly Votes for Schools programme.

Democracy is an important value at our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through many different ways. 

  • Student Leadership and Councils: Each year, children elect representatives to the School Council, Eco Committee, Head of House and Head Students through formal nomination and voting processes. These opportunities give children a voice in shaping academy priorities, events and improvements.
  • Pupil Voice: Regular opportunities for children to provide their views on teaching, learning, wellbeing, safeguarding and school culture. Outcomes are reflected and fed into the academy development planning.
  • Staff: Staff model respectful discussion, turn-taking and openness to differing opinions.
  • Assemblies: Assemblies explore concepts such as fairness, representation, responsibility and the importance of voting. Children learn about current events, voting and their rights. We use assemblies to highlight significant democratic events, such as local and general elections, national debated and remembrance commemorations.
  • PSHE: Children explore the role of local and national government, elections, rights and responsibilities, including the importance of voting.
  • English: Children have the opportunity to partake in debates, persuasive writing and exploring multiple viewpoints.

The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. 

  • Behaviour Policy: Children are taught the expectations and this is continually revisited. Expectations are clear, consistent and communicated in age-appropriate ways so that all children understand what positive behaviour looks like. Our system for behaviour is aligned to an agreed set of codes and if children are given verbal warnings this is always set against the agreed school behaviour code.
  • Teaching: Children are taught the value, purpose and importance of laws throughout the curriculum. Children are taught why rules exist, how they keep individuals and communities safe and how they promote fairness.
  • Praise: We endeavour to praise the children informally, individually, during group work, in front of the whole class and the whole school.  Children are rewarded not only for achievement in curriculum areas, but for behaviour and general adherence to the Ormiston Meadows ‘Positive Behaviour’ policy.
  • Enrichment: Outside authorities visit the school to teacher of rules and messages provided within school.
  • PSHE: Children explore fairness, laws and academy rules. They explore why we have them and the potential consequences when these are broken.

Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices at our school, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our children to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and planned curriculum. 

  • Teaching: All children are actively encouraged to make individual choices within and beyond the curriculum, helping them develop confidence, responsibility and self-awareness. Children are taught about boundaries, consent and personal responsibility, which ensures their freedom is exercised safely.
  • Enrichment: Children make choices through participation in enrichment, activities, clubs, leadership roles and sports, allowing them to explore interests, talents and personal aspirations.
  • Environment: A safe and supported environment is developed through clear behaviour expectations, consistent safeguarding practices, pastoral support and the promotion of cultures in which all children feel valued and respected.
  • Staff: Staff model respectful communication and positive riskp-taking, encouraging children to express themselves and explore new ideas.
  • Anti-Bullying Culture: The academy maintains a robust anti-bullying culture through clear policies, regular staff training and consistent responses to incidents. Anti-bullying strategies are reinformed through assemblies, PSHE lesson and day-to-day practice to educate children about the impact of bullying, online safety and how to report concerns.
  • PSHE: In PSHE lessons children are taught about making their own choices, how to stay safe within their environment and online.
  • Computing: Staying safe online is taught to children and what to do if they feel a situation is unsafe.

Part of our school ethos and positive behaviour policy are based around core values such as ‘respect’ and ‘self-worth’ and these values determine how we live as a community at Ormiston Meadows Primary Academy.

  • School Value: Respect is one of our four school values, this value is continually discussed and reflected upon with all children and staff.
  • Staff: Respectful behaviour is modelled consistency by all staff.
  • Behaviour Policy: Mutual respect is incorporated into our behaviour policy.
  • Teaching: Children are taught to recognise the effect of their behaviours on themselves and others through restorative conversations, feedback from staff and structured reflection opportunities. They learn how positive actions contribute to a calm and supportive learnign environment.
  • Rights and Responsibilities: Children’s rights and responsibilities are discussed throughout the academy day, curriculum and assemblies. Children explore the concepts of equality, fairness and the responsibilities that come with their rights.
  • PSHE: Children learn about equality, relationships and respectful communication.
  • PE: Children learn sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork.

This is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity in our local community.

  • Sharing: Children are actively encouraged to share their beliefs, traditions and experiences with peers. This may include contributing during class discussion, assemblies, opportunities to lead learning about important festivals or practices.
  • Assemblies: Assemblies explore the themes of equality, citizenship and the importance of understanding difference.
  • PSHE: Explore characteristics, discriminations and respectful relationships.
  • RE: Learn about different faiths, beliefs and opinions within the academy and wider.
  • History and Geography: Children learn about how cultures develop and interact.

”The school ensures that pupils learn about the wider world. They have lots of

opportunities to investigate the diversity of beliefs and lifestyles found in modern society.

Pupils learn how different beliefs can affect the way a person lives. For example, when

studying ‘hats of faith’ pupils come to understand that clothing can demonstrate deeper

spiritual feelings a person might have.”

Ofsted October 2024