Promoting British Values at Acres Hill Community Primary School

At Acres Hill, we promote fundamental British values through our ethos and the curriculum, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We reinforce and promote British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs as demonstrated below:

Democracy At Acres

Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised by pupils. Two council members for each year group are voted by each class. School Council is also involved in the recruitment of new staff. They also discuss rights and fundraising, and to present ideas at assemblies on whole school issues. Children are also often encouraged to choose different challenges in lessons, giving them additional choice and autonomy. 

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws is consistently reinforced throughout the school day. 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. Our home/school agreement sets out the contract between the school, the child and their parents. The class charter sets out expected behaviour and associated rights in each class. Circle time may be used as an opportunity to discuss difficult situations that benefit from whole class discussion. Keeping safe when using the internet is regularly discussed with children in computing lessons and in assemblies.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make choices, through provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; for example in computing through our E-Safety policy. Acres pupils are given the freedom to make many choices, be this in class, through their choice of learning strategies (choice of challenge), in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, through fundraising or sporting opportunities.

Mutual Respect
Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others - respect in one of our Acres Attributes. There are many opportunities to develop SMSC across the curriculum for example through R.E., PSHE, PE, art, music, history, geography, science and English. Children are encouraged to work in collaboration as much as possible either in their class, with other year groups and sometimes with other schools in sport or at music festivals.
All members of the school community treat each other with respect. We publish all our Relationship and Behaviour policy on the website and parents, pupils and staff sign a home school agreement setting out our expectations. There may be assemblies themed around inspirational people who reflect this ethos. 

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Acres Hill is a diverse community, so within our school we constantly promote tolerance of our communities, languages, faiths and beliefs.
Our Religious Education, Personal, Social, Health and Emotional curriculum and Rights Respecting School initiative reinforce our commitment towards a tolerant society. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children may visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.

We have recently introduced our Culture and Heritage Day to showcase our diversity and celebrate what makes each of us unique and special.
At Acres Hill we will actively challenge pupils, staff, parents or anyone in the school community expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including 'extremist' views.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development

At Acres Hill, we recognise that the personal development of pupils, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve. We therefore aim to provide an education that provides pupils with opportunities to explore and develop their own values and beliefs, spiritual awareness, high standards of personal behaviour, a positive caring attitude towards other people, an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the diversity and richness of other cultures.

All curriculum areas have a contribution to make to the child’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and opportunities for this will be planned in each area of the curriculum.

Spiritual Development

Our children are encouraged to reflect on the predominant religious and moral values that underpin our democratic and multi-cultural British society. Through Religious Education lessons, Collective Worship, visiting places of worship and celebratory events, our children learn about the similarities and differences of other religions and are encouraged to reflect on their own beliefs whilst tolerating the different viewpoints of others including those who do not have a religious faith.

We aim to develop our children spiritually by supporting them to;

• Gain the ability to be reflective about their own beliefs, religious or otherwise, that informs their perspective on their life, show an interest in and respect for different people’s faiths, feelings and values.
• Have a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning differences about themselves, others and the world them.
• Use imagination and creativity in their daily lives
• Be willing to reflect upon their own beliefs

Moral Development

Throughout areas of the curriculum, children are presented with moral issues for debate, discussion and reflection. Such issues enable and encourage our children to discuss British values and understand how these are relevant to them.

The children are supported in their moral development through discussion, teaching and opportunities to:

• Recognise the difference between right and wrong
• Apply this understanding in their own life
• Respect the civil and criminal law of the United Kingdom
• Understand the consequences of their behaviour and choices
• Investigate and offer reasoned views about moral and ethical dilemmas 
• Understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others on these

Social Development

Children have a wide range of opportunities to work collaboratively within class and across year groups. We promote ‘Buddy Systems’ for children new to the school and have appointed children as ‘Play Leaders’ who actively support other children throughout break-time and lunchtimes. 'Attendance Ambassadors' promote positive attendance and greet late comers in a morning so they start their day in a positive way.

Acres Hill is at the heart of the local community and we encourage pupils to show care and consideration for others through charitable work and young citizenship. Opportunities are planned where possible to link the curriculum to charities within the community, such as raising funds for Sheffield Children's Hospital or donating local food banks. The enabling enterprise lessons we provide allow children to develop skills such as teamwork and leadership as well as expanding their knowledge of businesses within the local area and wider community. The School Council ensure that all children can influence decision making in school through the democratic processes and regular pupil surveys that are conducted.

There is a strong emphasis throughout the Personal Health and Relationship areas of study on individual rights and responsibilities including respect and valuing difference in the way people choose to live in modern British Society.

Our children are encouraged to develop socially by:

• Using a range social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
• Being encouraged to participate in a variety of communities and social settings
• Co-operating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts
• Understanding the importance of identifying and combatting social conflicts

Cultural Development 

At Acres Hill we value the diverse ethnic background of all pupils and families and undertake a variety of events to celebrate these, such as ‘Cultural and Heritage Day,’ which takes place during the Spring Term. We have found this approach to be enriching for all parties as it teaches tolerance and respect for the differences in our community and the wider world.

Through our English, Geography, History, French, Art, Music, Dance, RE and PSHE curriculum and wide programme of educational visits there are a wide range of learning opportunities which have strong links to the United Kingdom, through which we develop our children’s cultural understanding by enabling children to:

• Understand and appreciate the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and that of others.
• Understand and appreciate the range of different cultures within school and beyond our local community as an essential element of their preparation for life in modern Britain.