British Values

In accordance with The Department for Education, we aim to actively promote fundamental British values to ensure Lark Hall children leave school prepared for life in modern Britain and ready to have a positive influence in our rich and diverse society.

The Department for Education (DfE) have emphasised 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 Lark Hall, we ensure that the fundamental British Values are promoted, practiced and modeled on a daily basis so that they are central to the school’s day, teaching and general philosophy.

Many curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts: in particular RE, history, literacy and assemblies provide opportunities to deepen and develop an embedded understanding of British Values (whether taught implicitly or not). We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world. We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible, inclusive and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British society and to the world. Children are encouraged to take part in community events and to support charities such as: Children in Need and the Midland Air Ambulance. The whole school ethos is routinely emphasised to the children the principle:  Ready, Respectful and Safe.

At Lark Hall Infant and Nursery Academy School the core British Values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Every single child is encouraged to have a voice and for their ideas and opinions to shared and heard. By using their voice through the school council, the pupils can make a valuable contribution to how their school is run and can contribute to changing the school and wider society for the better. Furthermore, this helps our children to become responsible independent people who are able to look at and think deeply about the world around them, preparing them for life in modern Britain.

The Rule of Law

We aim to enable pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England. We encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour and to understand how their positive behaviour can benefit themselves, their peers and again, the wider community. Our school rules focus on a positive attitude and are continually promoted via a clear and consistent behaviour policy which is followed up in school assemblies, in the classroom and at playtime. Our school rules are on display throughout the school and are reinforced by all staff members. We reward behaviour not only through celebration assemblies, stickers and Dojo points but also by positive feedback and praise to each child when deserved. This helps to stimulate a happy, caring and stimulating learning environment in which all children can grow in self-esteem to reach their full potential.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance:

We live in a varied, diverse and rich society where everyone should be valued for the contribution they make-at whatever level. We try to instil in our children that no single person or group has the right to impose their values or ideology on another and that everyone is entitled to choose their own path. We embrace the concept of mutual respect and to help people to learn to live together in a community, showing sensitivity to the differences between each other. We aim to help our young children understand what discrimination and stereotyping are and the importance of identifying and combating this. Furthermore,  we promote tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures. Key celebrations in different faiths are learned about and stories are shared. Pupils are also taught to recognise the similarities and differences between religions.

Individual Liberty

Every pupil is actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We teach children to think for themselves and develop an enquiring mind. They are encouraged to understand that mistakes are to be embraced as part of our learning journey. This way we embed a love of learning and a desire to continue building on skills and knowledge throughout our lives. By widening experiences, we aim to raise aspirations and enable pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence and ultimately be a valued member of this rich, diverse society we live.

Overall, we help our children understand that the key British Values are not mutually exclusive but are interwoven and that, when adhered to, can encourage a kind, caring and productive society where everyone is valued and every person thrives.