In accordance with The Department for Education, we aim to actively promote British values in our school to ensure young people leave us prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

The Key British Values are as follows:

• Democracy
• Rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Democracy:

At Westwood Primary School, children have the opportunity to have their voices heard through discussion within their classes and the Community Leaders. Each class vote for their representative and have the opportunity to discuss their thoughts and feelings with their representative, as well as get feedback on how issues are solved.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of ‘Laws’, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the curriculum and the school's behaviour policy. Children agree their own class rules at the start of each year in order to decide on what makes a positive and healthy learning environment. We have visits from members of society who deal with the law and visits from authorities help to reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty:

Children are actively encouraged to make choices at school and, as a school, we provide opportunities to make these in a safe and supportive environment. We also aim to create an environment where children feel able to become resilient learners who are not afraid of a challenge. Children are nurtured to help them gain confidence and independence, knowing their rights and responsibilities within the school and how to exercise them appropriately. We teach these through our Computing, E-Safety and PSHE lessons. It is important for children to make their own informed choices and this is demonstrated on a daily basis, whether it be, through choice of lesson challenge, choice of meal at lunch or choice of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs.

Mutual Respect:

Part of our schools ethos and behaviour policy revolves around core values, such as ‘respect’. Children participate in discussions and assemblies (such as our weekly Citizenship assembly) related to what respect means and how it is shown. Displays around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom rules and our daily conversations and expectations. Our school behaviour system recognises excellence and pupils are given leadership roles throughout the school through a variety of duties (both informed choice and expected), such as Lunch Monitors and Community Leaders. 

Tolerance of those with Different Faiths and Beliefs:

Children have the opportunity to learn about those who follow a different religion or culture through carefully planned Religion and World Views lessons and these values are also embedded into our school behaviour policy. As a school, we aim to give children an understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity through visits linked to our Religion and World Views curriculum.