Promoting British Values at Calmore Junior School

The Department of Education have highlighted 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 tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.’

These principles are promoted at Calmore Junior School by giving our pupils a sense of belonging both in school, the wider community and the country in which they live.

We believe that our pupils should acquire knowledge of both the past and the present which informs them of how British values have been shaped. We ensure our pupils gain a sense of enjoyment and curiosity in learning about themselves, others and the world around them.

We teach and promote the concept of DEMOCRACY through:

  • Electing a School Council and following democratic processes in running the Council
  • Electing our School House Captains
  • Consulting pupils, parents/carers through questionnaires regarding school and community issues
  • Following the class charter that they have designed themselves
  • Appointing and training Play Leaders to assist in supporting games and activities at playtimes and lunchtimes
  • Applying peer assessment to identified work
  • Learning about democracy in Ancient Greece [Year 6]
  • Working in groups to plan a variety of afternoon lessons, which were then presented and voted upon [Year 6]
  • Golden Time activities and treats voted for and chosen by the children
  • Our evolving PHSE curriculum
  • Teaching children to children to respect public institutions and services
  • Taking part in the annual Hampshire Illustrated Book Awards [Years 4 & 5]
  • Social media discussion – on our blog, Facebook and Instagram

We teach and promote the RULE OF LAW through:

  • Our School Behaviour Policy [sanctions and rewards]
  • School assemblies and our PHSE curriculum
  • Literacy lessons [opportunities for discussion and debate]
  • SEAL assemblies [reflecting actions and consequences]
  • Understanding the importance of laws, how and why they are created and enforced
  • Understanding school rules [class charters, assemblies, our school behaviour policy]
  • Our home school agreement, e-safety talks
  • The behaviour modelled by staff at Calmore Junior School
  • Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service

We teach and promote the concept of INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY through:

  • Pupil responsibilities [classroom monitors, reading buddies, class librarians, play leaders]
  • Providing a wide range of enrichment activities which children can choose from
  • E-Safety and Safeguarding lessons and activities
  • Working with other services such as the Police and Fire Service
  • PHSE lessons [anti-bullying discussions]
  • Children taking ownership of their learning journey
  • A robust anti-bullying culture
  • The behaviour and safety policies in place

We teach and promote MUTUAL RESPECT through:

Respect is at the heart of our school ethos

  • Our school vision and aims, which emphasise respect and tolerance
  • Collaboration with children from other schools
  • Competing against other schools in sporting events
  • Whole school theme weeks and days
  • Charity fund raising events
  • Participating in local community events
  • Welcoming visitors respectfully
  • Our class charter based on rights and responsibilities, with respect for our classmates
  • Our RE curriculum [respect for and tolerance of other religions]

We teach and promote TOLERANCE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS AND CULTURES through:

  • School assembly time
  • Visits to places of worship
  • Our rich RE curriculum
  • Themed lunch day celebrating other faiths and cultures
  • Our European Day of Languages
  • Inviting visitors into our school
  • Displays around the school
  • A wide range of library books and resources for children to access
  • Our evolving PHSE curriculum
  • Weekly themes