Promoting British Values:

The DfE have 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.”

At Hillcrest Academies these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy:

Democracy is rife within the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Parliament. We also regularly vote in assemblies and across the curriculum. We emphasis that democracy isn’t about always being right, it’s about having a voice.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour. 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police and the Fire Service are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.Pupils take on roles such as lunch time monitors.

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 young pupils to make choices safety, through of provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge in maths lessons, of how they record evidence or if they choose to participate in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect:

Pupils have been part of discussions relating to what this means and how it is shown. It is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy. We have pupils look after our school environment highlighting that respects works both ways, this can be seen in our playground growing area and in our outdoor play areas.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

Staff have received training in making the most of all learning opportunities, and how they can use every opportunity throughout the curriculum to link to it back to our British Values.

Educate Against Hate

A fantastic website that gives parents and schools advice about protecting children from radicalisation and extremism can be found here: