British Values Statement

Arboretum Primary School is committed to actively promoting British values across the curriculum to ensure our pupils leave us fully prepared for life in modern Britain. We promote British values both within and beyond the classroom and these values are at the heart of school life.

The government emphasises that all schools should ensure that they teach pupils about British values. We take every opportunity to promote the fundamental British values through the statement – I really do matter

• Individual liberty
• Rule of law
• Democracy
• Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Individual liberty
At Arboretum Primary school, we teach that children are unique and their thoughts and ideas are to be valued and incorporated into school life. They are actively encouraged to make independent choices knowing that they are in a safe environment. Children are encouraged to understand and exercise their responsibilities and uniqueness, receiving advice about how to exercise these safely, for example through the teaching of E-Safety in computing lessons, pupil voice at school council and class and whole school assemblies.

Rule of law

The importance of laws, why we need them and the consequences that arise from not following them are consistently reinforced throughout the school day. Pupils are encouraged to understand the need for school rules and link this to the rules that need to exist within society as a whole. We follow three school rules, ‘Ready, Respectful and Safe’. Children are taught the rules, what they mean and the reason why we have rules. These are reinforced through PSHE lessons, class and whole school assemblies.

Democracy

The principle of democracy is best taught by experiencing it. Therefore, it is used for important decisions within the school community, for instance, elections being held for school council, children taking part in a voting experience linked to their own education eg: an artist’s work to be studied. Students are also encouraged to participate in the school’s mock elections that take place alongside national elections, with children preparing manifestos.

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Our diverse and multi-cultural catchment provides the ideal foundation upon which to build respectful curiosity for those different to ourselves. Our broad and balanced Religious Education curriculum provides educational opportunities to understand a range of faiths, religions and cultures. Wherever possible, this learning is taken outside of the classroom, with a visit to a place of worship of the religion being studied or alternatively children are 

afforded the opportunity to meet with a significant member of the studied faith such as an Imam when Islam was being studied. Respect and tolerance for different faiths, religions and cultures are further consolidated through assemblies.

Please see below for more ways that we embed British values across the Arboretum curriculum.