British Values at Fairlawn
At Fairlawn Primary School, we promote fundamental British values through our ethos, the curriculum, spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, and through our work as a Gold UNICEF Rights Respecting School. Through the RRS programme, we put children’s rights and voices at the heart of our school.
Our values of Friendship, Empathy and Responsibility and our rules Ready, Respectful, Safe reinforce and promote the British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs as demonstrated below:
1.Democracy
Key Value: Responsibility
Key Articles:
At the start of the year, the children decide upon their class charter and the rights associated with these. The role of the adults, or ‘duty bearers, and children as ‘right’s holders’ is also made clear on the charter. Each class nominate two representatives to join Pupil Parliament. The whole school vote for their own Prime Minister. Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard through groups set up by Pupil Parliament, which meets regularly to discuss issues raised by pupils. Furthermore, we have regular pupil questionnaires for children to share their views about the school.
2.The Rule of Law
Key Value: Responsibility
Key Articles:
The importance of laws is consistently reinforced throughout the school day through our school rules; ready, respectful, safe. 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.
Throughout the curriculum, lessons are 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. All members of the school community sign our ‘Online Safety Agreement’ and pledge to use the internet safely.
3.Individual Liberty
Key Rule: Respect
Key Articles:
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.
We put immense value in Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) and the children are the driving force in creating inclusive and imaginative spaces to play.
When children do behave unexpectedly, then they are supported in a restorative way.
4.Mutual Respect
Key Rule: Respect
Key Values: Friendship and Empathy
Key Articles:
As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School, mutual respect is at the heart of our ethos and values. Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. Across the curriculum, children are encouraged to work in collaboration as much as possible either in their class and with other year groups as peer mediators, digital leaders, play rangers, librarians, buddy readers and sports leaders.
5.Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Key Values: Empathy and Friendship
Key Rule: Respectful
Key Articles:
Within our school we constantly promote the celebration of our communities, languages, faiths and beliefs through:
- Religious Education syllabus (SACRE) and assemblies
- Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education curriculum
- UNICEF Rights Respecting School initiative
- Whole School Assemblies
- Key days that include: Empathy Day, World Afro Day, Stephen Lawrence Day, Show Racism the Red Card, World Hijab Day, Refugee Day