British Values Statement

At Harworth Church of England Academy we value the diversity of backgrounds of all pupils, families and wider school community. Our government believes that, ‘British society is founded on fundamental values and principles, which all those living in the UK should respect and support. These values are reflected in the responsibilities, rights and privileges of being a British citizen or permanent resident of the UK. They are based on history and traditions and are protected by law, customs and expectations. There is no place in British society for extremism or intolerance.’

The values we support are not unique to Britain and are shared by many people in the world. We support the values of democracy, rules of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs and these are embedded within our curriculum.  These values are found in our own school values identified by the children as respect, kindness, honesty, hard work, cooperation, fairness, confidence, tolerance, politeness and responsibility.

The Department for Education defines British Values as follows:

• Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process
• Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England
• Support for equality of opportunity for all
• Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law
• Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs

Our school reflects British values in all that we do.  We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British society and to the world. We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world.  

We actively promote British values in the following ways:

Democracy

• All children are encouraged to debate topics of interest, express their views and make a meaningful contribution to the running of the school on matters that directly involve pupils.  Children also have the opportunity to have their voices heard through pupil questionnaires and pupil surveys. We have a strong Parliament of Owls which is democratically elected each term.
• The principle of democracy is explored in the curriculum as well as during Collective Worship and RE. 
• Our school behaviour policy involves rewards which the pupils have discussed.

• We have voted for pupils from year 6 to be house captains.
• The Parliament of Owls initiate ideas and events for raising money to support charities, school projects and our twinned school in Tanzania.
• We hold a democratic vote in each class to select the Parliament of Owls representatives.
• We have children shaped bollards on the pavement outside our school to encourage drivers to slow down.
• We encourage Pupil Voice at Harworth Church of England Academy.
• Boris Johnson is our Prime minister and was voted in by an electoral vote.

Rule of Law

• Our school follows the Ruby Red Rules which are integral to our learning and ethos every day.
• School rules and expectations are clear, fair and regularly promoted.
• Pupils are always helped to distinguish right from wrong, in school and in the wider community.
• Pupils are encouraged to respect the law and we have visits from authorities such as the Police, Fire Service, Ambulance, etc. to help reinforce this message
• The Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Zero Tolerance policies set out a zero tolerance baseline for any form of aggression, abuse or violence, which extends to pupils, staff and parents and carers
• We know that the Queen rules the country and lives in Buckingham Palace.
• The children in the Foundation Stage made crowns to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s long reign.
• We are proud to wear our school uniforms.
• Some children have been invited to visit the Houses of Parliament by Bassetlaw MP John Mann.
• We know that laws are passed in the Houses of Parliament.
• The children in Year 4 visited the Galleries of Justice in Nottingham.
• We have class rules and whole school Ruby Red Rules.

 Individual Liberty

• Within school, pupils are actively encouraged, and given the freedom to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
• Pupils are supported to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and our pastoral support reinforces the importance of making the right choices.
• 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 teaching and PSHE lessons.
• Vulnerable pupils are protected and stereotypes challenged.  A strong anti-bullying culture is embedded in the school and any form of bullying is challenged and addressed. 
• Pupils have key roles and responsibilities in school.
• The children in year 6 take part in the DARE project annually.
• We know that the playground friends are happy to help us.
• We have safety officers to check that children learn in a safe environment.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

• Respect is one of the core values of our school.  The pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone, adults and children.
• Pupils are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.
• Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.
• We have visits are to local places of worship, e.g. Hindu Temple. We celebrate festivals from other cultures, eg, Divali, and we teach world faith
• Through the PSHE and RE curriculums pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations.
• Collective Worship often follows the theme of prejudices and prejudiced-based bullying and this is supported by learning in RE and PSHE.
• We visit other churches in our local area, embracing the different faiths.
• Some children have been visiting a Mosque in Leicester.
• We enjoyed taking part in the African dancing with Bemma.
• The children in class 2 sang in Polish at our harvest celebrations.
• All staff and children have taken part in training and a workshop on racism and diversity.
• We regularly discuss all aspects of bullying including cyber bullying.
• We have been learning about belonging and respect in RE lessons.
• The EAL children in school have the opportunity to speak and read in their own language.
• The children in year 5 went to the cenotaph on the 11^th November to lay a wreath on behalf of the school.
• The whole school held two minutes silence in respect to those who died in the war on the 11^th November.