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:
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 our School Council. The elections of members of the School Council are based on pupil votes.
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. 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.
Children are asked to identify which aspect of the code they have broken to ensure that this connection is made and understood. 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. To encourage and promote good behaviour, attitude and work, we have devised a reward system which is consistently followed throughout the school.
We are committed to praising children’s efforts. 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. Rewards are given in the form of stickers, points, and certificates. Children’s achievements are also recognised during Weekly Celebration Assemblies and Annual Awards Ceremony.
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. 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 anti- bullying week activities and e-Safety teaching. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. signing up for extra-curricular clubs.
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. Assemblies are based on our ‘Core Values for Life’ which are central to how we expect everyone to go about their life at our school.
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 which is by large white British. Whole school assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. We use opportunities such as the Olympics and World Cup to study and learn about life and culture in other countries.
“The curriculum makes good provision for pupils’ social, moral, cultural and spiritual development. Different roles and responsibilities promote pupils’ understanding of living in a modern British community. For example, weekly questions about local or national issues are debated by pupils. At the end of the week pupils vote, and their views and decisions are shared at celebration assemblies. This builds their understanding of community well and prepares them for life in modern Britain.”
Ofsted December 2018