British Values

Promoting British values at Blackpool Gateway Academy

At Blackpool Gateway Academy we are committed to serving the community and recognise the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. We also understand the vital role of the school in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subject to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.

We follow equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. Blackpool Gateway Academy is dedicated to preparing children for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its children.

We promote ‘British Values’ through our Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education (SMSC), Personal, Social, Health, Cultural and Emotional (PSHCE), and Religious Education (RE). Through the school’s broad and balanced curriculum we also actively promote British Values and ensure that our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values whilst supporting the development of the ‘whole child’.

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools. The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.

These values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy:

We are keen to allow our children to have a voice. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Our main pupil voice comes from our School Council where pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard and share their opinions and ideas. The principle of democracy is also explored in the History and Religious Education curriculum as well as in PSHE and assemblies.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, our neighbourhood or the country are consistently reinforced at Blackpool Gateway Academy. Our pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Our school has ‘Golden Rules’, which are consistently embedded across the school and are reinforced throughout regular school days, whole school assemblies, as well as when dealing with behaviour. Pupils are given the opportunity to contribute to their classroom rules so they are clearly understood by all and ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. It is vital that children understand that the rules are set for a purpose and that they are adhered to.

Other ways rules and law are reinforced include:

• visits from authorities such as the police and fire service
• during RE, when rules for particular faiths are thought about
• during other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules

Individual Liberty:

As a school we educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely through the provision of a safe and supportive environment and planned curriculum. Developing pupils self-esteem and self-confidence is very important at Blackpool Gateway Academy. Pupils are actively encouraged to be independent learners and are given the freedom to make choices; through choice of challenge, self selecting their learning activities, how they record or the personal choices about the food they eat.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our PHSCE education. All children are keen to support charities, whether local, national or global. They are taught consideration for others through our RE curriculum and PSHCE lessons in particular.

Mutual Respect:

Self-respect and respect for others is a vital part of our school behaviour policy and ‘Golden Rules’. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small. The core value of ‘respect’ at Blackpool Gateway Academy is deeply embedded in all that we do and underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom.

Our pupils know they have a right to be respected by all members of our community and they know what to do when their rights have been compromised. The rules and sanctions are clearly linked to respect to others and we do not tolerate intolerance of others. Adults are positive role-models and demonstrate the core values of our school community at all times.

Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

Through our curriculum, particularly in RE and PSHCE, we enhance pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs. Pupils learn about beliefs, traditions, customs, festivals and special events that take place throughout the year. Through this our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society.  

Tolerance is promoted further through discussions in RE and PSHCE involving exploring beliefs of those with or without a faith. In RE pupils are encouraged not only to learn about religion but from religion. We use opportunities like assemblies, festivals, and sporting events to study and learn about life and culture in other countries and include visits to places of worship as well as inviting visitors in to share their faith and ideas.

On Wednesday 28th June the children at Blackpool Gateway Academy had a very exciting morning! The children had a special assembly where they learnt all about British Values and what they mean, they then had time to reflect on how we integrate them into life here at Gateway.

All children then went and had circle times with their teachers and had time to think about the British Values they had learnt about and how we could use these as inspiration to create our own School Values.

The classes all voted on two values that they thought were the most important to our school or their class and then our School Council met, had a discussion and voted on these six Blackpool Gateway Academy Values. What wonderful values they are!!

 

British Values Assembly

Each week the whole school, including Early Years, undertake an assembly relating to Picture News which has an extensive and highly topical library of resources. Every week there is a clear link to one of the British Values and a link to one of our Core Values is also made. Children discuss this and examples are displayed in school on our PSHE board.

Rewards in achievers assembly are then made to link with the British Value and children are asked to talk about what they have learnt. Local and national aspects are discussed and highlighted to develop children's understanding and awareness.