British Values

Promoting British Values at Harrison Primary School

The DFE have recently reinforced the need "to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on 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".

The Government set out is definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated this year. At Harrison Primary School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Children at Harrison play an ever increasing role in school leadership. We have a school council from  Y1-Y6 which meets regularly to discuss issues pertinent to school. The council represent the voice of pupils within Harrison and is able to effect change within the school. Every child on the school council is voted in by their class. The council account for their actions and decisions by giving a report to governors annually.

Pupil voice is also seen with children being chosen to be Digital Leaders, Peer Mentors, Library Champions, Junior Road Safety Officers, Radio Stars and Green team  members. Children learn that, together with the right to ensure the views of children are integral to our school life and curriculum, they have the responsibility to carry out their role with integrity. A pupil panel is always involved in the interview process for teachers.

The children annually create a class charter where they collectively decide what actions are acceptable in their classrooms. This enables the children to hold others to account for inappropriate actions, in direct contrast to rules which would  be imposed on them.  This work is all based on the Rights, Respect and Responsibility agenda that underpins our school values.

Through our curriculum children are taught about, and encouraged to respect, public institutions and services. One example of this is where children in Y1, Y4 and Y5 take part in the Hampshire Picture Book, Information Book and Illustrated Books awards when they discuss the merits of each of the shortlisted books and collectively vote for the ones that Harrison Primary would  like to win.

Pupils are selected at random for pupil conferencing meetings with members of the senior leadership team to seek their views and opinions on a range of school and community issues.  The pupils in Y2 and Y6 also take part in the Hampshire "What do I think" survey.

All parents, carers and children can read class/school blogs and make comments on learning at Harrison.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country are consistently reinforced at Harrison.

Pupils are taught from an early age the rules of the school through the class charters, assemblies, school behaviour policy, home school agreement, e-safety talks and everyday life modelled by the staff. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

At Harrison pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in safe and  supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-Safety and PHSE work.

Harrison is registered with UNICEF and have been awarded the Rights Respecting School Award Level 2.

Harrison has a robust anti bullying culture and behaviour and safety policies in place.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect and this is specifically reinforced through school systems such as Infant/Junior partners.

Harrison provide opportunities for the children to visit places of significant cultural interest, places of worship e.g. Y1 visit Trinity Church, and we actively encourage visitors from a range of communities and organisations into school. Resources linked to the six major religions practiced in Britain are used to develop children's understanding of different faiths.

Harrison has been awarded the P4C (Philosophy for Children) Silver award and has threaded the discussion and debate element of this through all subjects of the curriculum. This ensures children are taught discretely how to deal with people who have opposing views to them and to feel confident to state if they have opposing views to others.

The school supports a charity each year and plan fundraising and awareness raising activities to support that charity.