Modern British Values are a key part of our curriculum and learning at High Halden Church of England Primary School. As part of this, learning promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

 

Our learning enables pupils to;

• develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
• distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
• take responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;
• acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
• promote tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
• encourage respect for other people;
• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

 

We aim to do this in a way that primary-aged children can understand and empathise with. For example in electing our school council, we actively experience democracy by individually voting for our Headboy,Headgirl and House Captains.

 

A group of children joined our fellow Tenterden Rural Alliance schools for a full day workshop exploring Modern British Values through such diverse learning themes as cooking, sports and letter writing.

As a result of schools promoting fundamental British values, our pupils acquire the following understanding and knowledge;

• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
• an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety;
• an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence;
• an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
• an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour; and
• an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.