British Values

Fundamental British Values underpin what it is to be a citizen in a modern and diverse Great Britain valuing our community and celebrating diversity of the UK. These values are Democracy, Rule of Law, Mutual Respect and Tolerance and Individual Liberty.

At Applegarth Academy, the British Values are implicitly and explicitly taught in assemblies and lessons. The children of our school have become increasingly more confident to discuss, explain and model the British Values.

For instance, ‘Democracy’ is experienced when class communities of enquiry vote for a question they wish to discuss in P4C; children also have the opportunities to vote for a class ambassador.

Mutual Respect is strongly promoted throughout the academy through high quality displays that spotlight diversity and equality – both in the staffroom and corridors; during assemblies – for example that highlight special times of the year – e.g. Chinese New Year, and Martin Luther King Day; through carefully selected, thoughtfully planned P4C stimuli with links made to concepts such as disability. BPA has achieved Bronze Race Charter mark, and in the wider curriculum, children learn about broad ranging inspirational people including Malala Yousafzai and Florence Nightingale. Class identities are also named after a diverse range of inspiring people in history including Emmeline Pankhurst, Stephen Hawking, Rosa Parks and Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.

‘Rule of Law’ is explored through RSE coverage, for example, in Year 1, children ‘identify rules needed for different situations’ and Year 6 children learn about online rules for E-safety. Every class at the beginning of each academic year will explore the importance of rules and will create a class charter linking to rules, rights and responsibilities.

Individual liberty’ is enjoyed throughout school life and explored from EYFS upwards, for example, foci in Reception PSED lessons include educating the child to ‘see themselves as a valuable individual’, and pupils in all year groups experience regular, child-led learning in P4C. There is also a pupil post-box decorated by pupils and used regularly across KS1 and 2.