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 and Emotional (PSHE), 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.

Our Year 6 leadership team were also appointed democratically. They read their speeches in assembly for the whole of KS2 who then voted for who they felt was most suitable to the roles available. A few days later the pupils were awarded their badges in a whole school assembly which their parents were invited in to as well. 

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 a set of school 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. 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 PHSE education. All children are keen to support charities, whether local, national or global. They are taught consideration for others through our RE curriculum and PSHE lessons in particular.

Mutual Respect:

Self-respect and respect for others is a vital part of our school behaviour policy and our 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 PSHE, 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 PSHE 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 26th March we held a whole school celebration of Eid. One of the pupils at BGA wrote a letter to Miss Makinson asking if we could have a whole school celebration for Eid. Miss Makinson said yes and was very excited for the learning which would take place and the celebration together as a whole school community. A group of children planned the day perfectly with the kitchen doing a special menu of traditional food eaten at Eid; Eid chocolate treasure hunts taking place; all pupils writing postcards to someone special explaining what they are thankful for; children explaining the meaning of Eid and what they do to celebrate it with their families; Henna pattern designing, Henna carried out by Mrs Raja on Mrs Williams’ hand (the children were very excited to see their designs brought to life) and food tasting -they tried poppadoms with mango chutney, onion bhajis, samosas and pakoras and then ended the day with a disco! It was a wonderful day for everyone and allowed for loyts of learning to take place about Eid.

We also celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi. The Nursery and Reception children can be seen here creating art work, squeezing, twisting, stamping and throwing sponges to see colours emerge to create vibrant matserpieces. 

Inspired by Lunar New Year in Vietnam, the children in Reception created something truly special. In Vietnam, families celebrate the new year by decorating peach trees with their hopes and dreams so this is what Reception did.