Promoting British Values at Takeley
All schools are expected to provide opportunities for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. As part of this, we promote "fundamental British values", which the DfE defines as:
- Democracy
- Trule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
At Takeley, British Values are closely intertwined with our BE Values. Our BE Values - BE READY, BE RESPECTFUL, BE KIND, BE SAFE, and BE A TEAM - provide the foundation through which children experience and demonstrate British Values in their daily lives.
How We Promote British Values
Democracy is embedded throughout our school practice. Children have the opportunity to stand for School Council at the start of each year, with classmates voting for their representatives. Elected council members represent their peers' views and make decisions through democratic voting on issues they wish to pursue.
Our House Captains and Vice Captains are also elected democratically in the Autumn term. Children prepare speeches explaining why they would be a good leader, and their house members vote to elect their captains. This gives children authentic experience of the democratic process.
Throughout the school, children work collaboratively in teams, making decisions by listening respectfully to all viewpoints. When consensus cannot be reached, we use voting to model democratic decision-making.
Our BE Values in action: Children demonstrate BE RESPECTFUL (Respect Heroes) by listening to and valuing everyone's opinions during elections and decision making. They show BE A TEAM (Team Takeley) by working collaboratively and accepting democratic outcomes.
The Rule of Law
We reinforce the importance of laws and rules at class, school, and national levels. Each class creates agreed class rules at the start of the academic year. We teach children that laws exist to govern and protect us, and explore the responsibilities this involves and consequences when laws are broken. This is reinforced through our behaviour policy, assemblies, and across the curriculum.
Our pupil leaders play an important role in upholding the rule of law. Playground Buddies and Playground PALs help remind others about playground rules and safe play, whilst all our pupil leaders model following school expectations.
Our BE Values in action: Children demonstrate BE SAFE (Safety Guardians) by following school safety rules and helping others do the same. They show BE RESPECTFUL (Respect Heroes) by understanding that rules help create a positive environment for everyone.
Individual Liberty
Children are actively encouraged to make safe choices within our supportive environment. We provide boundaries and develop the skills needed for children to manage their environment safely. Through our teaching of online safety and PSHE education, pupils learn to understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms responsibly.
We offer numerous opportunities for children to develop decision-making skills, including through our range of extra-curricular clubs and during unstructured times. Our extensive pupil leadership programme enables children to exercise individual liberty by taking on responsibilities that match their interests and strengths:
- House Captains and Vice Captains (Years 1-6) - elected to lead their house
teams - Playground PALs (Years 5-6) - apply termly to lead playground activities
- Playground Buddies (Years 3-6) - nominated to support children on the
playground - School Council Members (Years 1-6) - nominated by peers to represent their class
Our BE Values in action: Children demonstrate BE READY (Ready Rangers) by
taking initiative and being prepared for their leadership responsibilities. They show
BE KIND (Kindness Champions) by choosing to use their freedom to help and
support others.
Mutual Respect
Our behaviour policy promotes respect for every child and all adults in school. We
celebrate and reward respectful behaviour during our weekly Achievement
Assemblies, reinforcing the importance of treating others with dignity and kindness.
Our pupil leaders model mutual respect by working collaboratively with peers and
adults, listening to different viewpoints, and representing their classmates views with
consideration and care. For example:
- School Council members listen to ideas and suggestions from classmates and
show respect for everyones opinions - Playground Buddies help sort out minor disagreements fairly and kindly,
encouraging everyone to use kind words and actions
Our BE Values in action: Children demonstrate BE RESPECTFUL (Respect Heroes)
by listening when others are speaking and valuing everyones differences and
opinions. They show BE KIND (Kindness Champions) by using kind words and
actions and thinking about how their actions affect others.
Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
We enhance pupils' understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society
through meaningful experiences of diversity. In Religious Education, we teach about
different faiths so children can gain understanding of each religion. We invite
members of different faith communities to share their knowledge and explain why
their faith is important to them. We use assemblies to celebrate individuals who have
challenged prejudice and discrimination, with follow-up learning across the
curriculum to deepen understanding.
Our pupil leadership roles help develop tolerance by bringing together children from
different backgrounds, year groups, and with different abilities and needs.
Playground PALs and Playground Buddies actively work to include everyone in
games and activities, looking out for anyone who is left out.
Our BE Values in action: Children demonstrate BE KIND (Kindness Champions) by
including everyone in games and activities regardless of their differences. They show
BE A TEAM (Team Takeley) by working well with others, sharing ideas and
supporting classmates from diverse backgrounds to succeed.
How British Values Are Embedded Across Our Curriculum
We ensure British values are woven throughout our curriculum subjects, including:
English: We explore books that teach themes of tolerance, mutual respect and
democracy, and study stories, poetry and writings from diverse cultures, discussing
diversity, tolerance and discrimination.
History: We analyse events in UK and world history where British values have been
tested, such as both World Wars.
Geography: We examine how different cultures live and work throughout the world.
Religious Education: Lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for
others, include visits to places of worship from different faiths, and celebrate different
faiths and cultures.
PSHE Education: We teach about personal rights and freedoms and how to exercise
these safely, explore different models of democracy through participation in votes,
pupil voice questionnaires and pupil councils, and address discrimination and
diversity including LGBTQ+ issues, race, disability, equal rights and online safety.
Our Whole-School Approach
British values are not just taught in individual lessons – they flow through our entire
school culture, ethos and vision. We take a holistic approach, ensuring these values
are lived through our daily practice and reinforced through assemblies and collective
worship.
Pupil leadership is central to our approach, giving children meaningful opportunities
to experience democracy, exercise individual liberty, demonstrate mutual respect,
and work with peers from diverse backgrounds. Through their leadership roles,
children actively embody both British Values and our BE Values, developing the
skills, attitudes and understanding they need to become responsible, caring citizens.
We recognise and celebrate children who demonstrate British Values and our BE
Values through:
- Class Dojo - children earn Dojo points when they demonstrate our BE Values
- House Points - awarded for embodying the values throughout the school day
- Weekly Certificates - recognising how children have shown our values in our
celebration assembly
This positive approach ensures that children feel valued and motivated to continue
demonstrating these important behaviours.
