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 its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated this year (2014). At Shevington Vale these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways.

Each year the children decide upon their classroom behaviour plan and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the conditions for learning, the sanctions and the rewards for the new year...

Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have Young Governors who meet regularly to discuss issues raised in class council meetings and are able to genuinely effect changes within the school. Two of the children for each year group are voted in by their class. The school also has its weekly Circle Assembly where issues, views and requests are hear from the children – here debates take place to solve problems. The meeting is led by Y6 pupils in the form of a Chairperson and Secretary to take the minutes. Each week the present chairperson chooses the two roles for the following week.

At the end of each term our ’Top Copy Champions Committee’ meet to award a certificate to a child in each class who has worked hard to produce an excellent collection of their term’s work - there are also two awards for effort. The children created the criteria for success to show off quality work.

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.

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. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message. There is a team point system to support examples of good behaviour which allows all adults across to be involved in rewarding any of our children for good examples of behaviour.

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 young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and 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 PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices. They are involved in determining the choice of topic for the term.

As a School, mutual respect is at the heart of our own School and Federation values. Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect. Every term during the final week we hold a Top Copy Sharing session where each class lays out their Top Copy Book in their classroom for all the other children to visit and read. The classes visit each other’s class and leave a message on the book they have read on its post it note. This has taught the children to be respectful to all children.