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.”
At Archbishop Runcie CofE First School, we develop and promote British values throughout our general school ethos, including being a no-outsiders school and within our whole-school curriculum offer. We aim to ensure that children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and leave our setting with an understanding of, and the foundations to prepare them for life in modern Britain today.
These include:
• Democracy – An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process.
• The Rule of Law – An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their well-being and safety.
• Mutual Respect – An understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.
• Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs – An acceptance that other people have different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.
• Individual Liberty – An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law.
At Archbishop Runcie these universal values are taught through our PSHE curriculum, RE curriculum and daily collective worship. We take opportunities to actively promote British values through whole school systems and structures such as running a successful school council.