Promoting British Values
How we promote British Values at St Michael at Bowes
The DFE has recently reinforced the need ‘to create and enforce a
clear and rigorous expectation for 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 St Michael at Bowes School we are dedicated to promoting
values, which ensure our pupils develop a strong sense of social
and moral responsibility, which will prepare them for life in modern
Britain. We would like to share with our parents how we promote
these values.
DEMOCRACY
We value pupil voice highly and we regularly ask the pupils about
their learning, their concerns and for their ideas about how we can
make things better for them. We do this by using pupil
questionnaires (annually) and interviews (half termly), through our
Pupil Voice books in each classroom, through our curriculum team
pupil members and through our Rights Respecting School
Councilors. At the start of each year class teachers decide on one
new member to join the council and one established member steps
down. During the following February, the next established member
steps down and each class vote on a new member by holding
democratic elections. This gives the established members the role
of training and supporting the new members. The Rights
Respecting School Council also has a budget and they make
decisions about how to spend this. One of our core school values
is Fairness and for half a term each year we spend time in class
and during assemblies unpicking the meaning of this value. Upper
School children also take part in Learning Reviews, where they
present their strengths and targets for improvement to their
teacher and a member of the Senior Leadership team.
THE RULE OF LAW
The school has a Positive behaviour policy. The children
understand the school rules and what happens if these rules are
broken. They also have a good understanding of the UnitedNations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and are
taught through assemblies and the curriculum how to apply these
rights responsibly. At the start of each year classes decide on
class rules, based around the UNCRC and agree a charter to
abide by. During PSHE lessons and assemblies children learn
about the importance of having rules and how these relate to laws.
We use a range of PSHE resources and well as Philosophy for
Children to promote moral, spiritual, social and cultural awareness
among our pupils. Our children have a well-developed sense of
justice. They understand and are able to discuss why there needs
to be consequences for those who break the rules or laws. By
being immersed in the ethos of the school, our children learn about
their responsibility to be law abiding citizens.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY
Every child has the right to have a say in all matters affecting
them, and to have their views taken seriously. (UNCRC Article 12)
Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the
right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the
provision of a safe, supportive environment and empowering
education, we provide boundaries for our children to make choices
safely; for example:
• Choices about what learning challenge or activity to do;
• Choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities;
• Choices about how to spend curriculum budgets alongside adult
members of the team;
• Choices about lunchtime options, and so on.
Our behaviour policy is built on the principle that children are
responsible for their own actions and choices and that these have
consequences. The school sanctions system provides reflection
time where pupils are able to think about the impact of their
choices. Our Learning Mentor trains children to become mentors
who support others to resolve playground issues. She also runs
TAP club (Talk About a Problem) and Talk Talk, where children
can sign up for appointments to discuss their worries. During
PSHE, e-Safety lessons and Assemblies pupils are taught how to
keep themselves safe whilst they exercise their rights and personal
freedoms. Safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of life at the
school.
MUTUAL RESPECT AND TOLERANCE
Our ethos at St Michael at Bowes is based on mutual respect and
good manners. Adults actively model respect for one another, and
with the children, in how we speak and treat one another. Our
school is a diverse community and, through our creative
curriculum, we promote an awareness of different faiths and we
encourage our pupils to recognise and understand these faiths.
Our pupils naturally show tolerance for others and have a curiosity
to find out and understand cultures and faiths that are different
from their own. Our children visit all the main places of worship in
and around Enfield. All staff model a tolerant and accepting
attitude. We use assemblies to raise and discuss issues of bullying
and prejudice and reinforce this learning during curriculum time.
At St Michael at Bowes, we will actively challenge pupils, parents
or staff who express opinions contrary to fundamental British
Values, including extremist views. We hold the Level 1 Rights
Respecting Award and are currently working towards achieving
Level 2.
British Values through the Curriculum
Interwoven within the curriculum in a range of subjects, are
planned opportunities to teach the values of our society. Some
examples are:
• PSHE: How we influence democracy is explored though PSHE
and assemblies. This includes looking at historical figures
such as Nelson Mandela, Olauda Equiano and Gandhi and
exploring the effectiveness of different approaches.
The Rule of Law - The importance of laws, whether they be
those that govern the class, the school, or the country is
consistently reinforced at St Michael at Bowes. Pupils are
encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights
and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise
these safely, for example through our e-safety and PSHE
lessons.
• Geography: We ensure that children have a better
understanding of what Britain is and their place within it,
learning more about its capital cities and counties, its rivers
and mountains, where Britain is in relation to the rest of
Europe and other countries in the world.
• History: Britain and its influence in modern times are aspectswoven into our home learning projects and IPC topics
• Music: The study of British composers and their influence
worldwide.
• Art: The study of how British artists influence others around the
world.
• Religious, Moral & Spiritual Education: Gaining a greater
understanding of religious diversity and practices, this covers
key religions represented in the UK. All children have the
opportunity to visits places of worship that are important to
different to faiths. St Michael at Bowes actively promotes
diversity through celebrations of different faiths and cultures.
• Physical Education: Promotion of the concept of “fair play”,
following and developing rules, inclusion, celebrating and
rewarding success, being magnanimous in defeat and
participation in activities that promote kinship and affiliation
with others.
• Computing: Children are also taught about respect and bullying
in the online world, through our learning platform, DB
Primary and though regular e-safety lessons. Outside
agencies are also invited into school to reinforce and build
on this learning.
• Family Home Learning Projects: We encourage children and
their families to work together to consider issues relating to
our values and democracy. For example, during the last
General Election families were asked to discuss and record
what laws they would pass if they were to become Prime
Minister.
• Pupil Leadership of teams: Promotion of democratic
processes, fostering the concept and application of freedom
of speech and group action to address needs and
concerns. Key to this is the concept of holding others to
account, including those in positions of influence and
authority.
• Educational visits: Our broad range of educational visits and
experiences outside of the classroom equip our children with
the skills to make a positive contribution to their community
as equal citizens, as well as being able to look at British
heritage in more depth. Recent visits have included a visit to
the Houses of Parliament, Enfield Mayoral Chambers and
the British Museum amongst others.
Community Events: We work closely with charities and
organisations such as UNICEF and Wateraid. We encourage our
children to interact with children from other schools, both locallyand further afield, though organised activities. We have a Local
Action Team, which is focused on raising awareness of local
issues and supporting local charities.
