The Department for Education has published guidance on promoting British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.

All schools have a duty to ‘actively 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.

 

Democracy

• 'Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.'

  Aristotle

• At Ray Lodge, we ensure all pupils within the school have a voice that is listened to. We do this through communication boxes in every room. through pupil surveys, through circle time and through having school Ambassadors who form part of our Pupil Leadership Team. We demonstrate how democracy works by actively promoting democratic processes such as our school ambassadors and learning ambassadors. Each year our school hall is filled with real council ballot boxes and a full election takes place. Members are voted for by the pupils. During this time, and during English lessons, children have the opportunity to learn how to argue and defend points of view.

The Rule of Law

 

'Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice'

Martin Luther King

The importance of laws whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced at Ray Lodge.  Our school has ‘Golden Rules’, which are deeply embedded in our work every day.  Each class also discusses and sets its own code of conduct that is clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.  Our 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.

Individual Liberty

'What light is to the eyes - what air is to the lungs - what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man.'

Robert Green Ingersoll

 

Our children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.  As a school we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering learning.  Our children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our e-safety and P.S.H.E. lessons. Whether it is through choice of challenge; of how they record; of participation in our numerous extra- curricular activities -  our pupils are given the freedom to make choices. Choice brings future happiness.

 

Mutual Respect

“The only true disability is the inability to accept and respect differences.”

 

Respect is one of the core values of our school and it is deeply embedded in all that we do at the school.  The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone - old and young, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.  The core value of respect underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom and in and out of the school.

 

Tolerance of Those With Different Faiths And Beliefs

'The highest result of education is tolerance.'
Helen Keller

 

Ray LodgePrimary School enhances pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies; PSHE work; visits to other schools in different settings to participate in celebrations such as Diwali; welcoming visitors from other schools and communities and enjoying a depth of study during themed weeks.   Beliefs, traditions and customs are studied in depth, with visitors being invited in to our school to enrich and extend our children's and our community's understanding.  Through this our pupils gain a deep understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and of their place in our global community.