At Durham Gilesgate Primary School we have developed a structured approach to teaching and embedding values including British Values with our children.
Values is a curriculum driver which helps to ensure that the teaching of values underpins the curriculum and that the work which we do is reinforced regularly in each class.
We have chosen five Core Values and these are; Tolerance, Respect, Equality, Community and Independence. We have also chosen concepts that are linked to these values and each month (with the exception of August) one of the linked concepts will be introduced in a school assembly, taught within each class and followed up with relevant curriculum links. Where possible we will also make these relevant to ongoing topical issues in the news and both national/or international events such as Remembrance Day, the International Day of Democracy, Holocaust Memorial Day etc.
As an example; in November we will be teaching about the concept of Empathy which we have linked to the Core Value of Respect. This work will tie in with Remembrance Day. You can view the outline plan that develops these concepts over a two year cycle here)
By doing this we will be able to meet our obligation to teach children about British Values. British Values underpin society but in order to understand them we need to develop the language that helps children to talk about and describe their choices and their understanding of moral issues and culture.
Parents and visitors will not see British Values displays in school, rather you will see a whole school approach to teaching values and children developing the language and skills to talk about these concepts. You will see children who understand differences and similarities in a meaningful and respectful way, who are inclusive in their play, who know the difference between right and wrong and who are developing the skills to become independent thinkers and learners.
The British Values and how they are developed through our values curriculum are:-
Democracy:- This is about giving children a say in how things are organised. From making decisions in their own classrooms through to class and school council meetings.
The Rule of Law:- This is about children knowing why we have rules in school and society and includes the concepts of fairness, justice and responsibility. It is linked clearly to our school rules.
Individual Liberty and Freedom for All:– This is about freedom of choice and equality, and is developed through our Core Values of independence and Equality and many of the linked concepts.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance:- This is about understanding that there are many different people in school and society from a variety of backgrounds, nationalities, and religions. It is how we develop the skills to understand that people can be different but that we respect and tolerate the choices that they make about faith and beliefs.