Cross Lane Primary School

British Values and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) Development

The DfE have recently reinforced the 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 Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated last year. At Cross Lane Primary these values are reinforced in many ways.  British Values form an integral part of school life through daily experiences, interactions with staff, parents and pupils and through our curriculum provision.

Democracy

Pupils have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class circle time and to focus on whole school projects. The pupils who represent classes on our school council were nominated and voted for by pupils.

Pupils collectively decide which charities we should fund and how money can be raised.

The Rule of Law

The importance of law whether these govern the class, the school or the country are consistently reinforced throughout the school day. We do this when encouraging, promoting and role modelling positive behaviour, in assemblies and school events. Pupils are taught the value and reason behind the laws that govern and protect us, the responsibility which is involved, the notion of anarchy and the consequences and impact on others when laws are broken.

Individual Liberty

Within school pupils are actively encouraged to make choices knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make safe choices through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms for example through assemblies, PSHE and e-safety lessons.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the heart of all our values. Pupils learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and the rights of others. All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect. Every student and adult is expected to behave in a responsible manner, both to themselves and others, showing consideration, courtesy and respect for other people at all times.  The contribution which pupils make to the culture of the school and how they conduct themselves is of great importance, therefore  respect, courtesy and good manners are  expected and role modelled at all times.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

We are extremely lucky at Cross Lane Primary School in that the school community has a wide range of diversity, which we celebrate in many different ways.  Assemblies and the curriculum are planned to address this issues relating to prejudice (special educational needs, sexual orientation, sex, race, religion, gender and disability) directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths, cultures and through play. Our PSHE, circle time, RE curriculum and teaching reinforces this.  Pupils experience real and virtual visits of places of worship that are important to different faiths.   

As a school we actively promote the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development (SMSC) of our pupils.   The promotion of British Values is at the core of this curriculum.

This is central to our aims, values and ethos of the school and takes place throughout the school day including during curriculum sessions, promotion through the learning environment, assemblies, playtimes and interactions between people in school.

SMSC in school aims to promote these through:

• Learning how to apply these values in life
• Understanding the difference between right and wrong
• Becoming lawful citizens
• Developing skills so that pupils can contribute fully to the British way of life
• Understanding and respecting the range of different cultures in / beyond school

At Cross Lane Primary, we will actively challenge pupils, parents or staff expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including extremist views