British Values

 Promoting British Values at 
Sawtry Infant School

Preparing our children for life in modern Britain
This page highlights how at Sawtry Infant School we promote the fundamental British values of ‘Democracy’, ‘The Rule of Law’, ‘Individual Liberty’, ‘Mutual Respect’ and ‘Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs’ in meaningful and understandable ways for the children at our school. 

As well as actively promoting British values, we would actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including ‘extremist’ views.

Democracy

We believe that the ability to communicate is an important area of learning and a key life skill. Democracy plays a key role at Sawtry Infant School. Pupils can share their ideas through our School Council and the Eco Council. 

Elections are held for some school roles and children are involved in each stage of the voting process. Throughout the year, the groups are involved in making important decisions within the school community.

Children are always encouraged to take an active role in class discussions and debates.  Regular pupil voice sessions are done with staff across the school to ensure that all the children at Sawtry Infant School are able to share their ideas and opinions.

The Rule of Law

We understand the importance in providing the optimum conditions for learning to take place. We believe it is key for children to understand right from wrong. The importance of laws and law making, whether they be those for the classroom, the school, or the country, is consistently reinforced throughout everyday school life.

Pupils are taught the reasons behind laws and know that they govern and protect us.  They are encouraged to understand the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.  We encourage visitors from our local community that help us to reinforce this message. 

Our school’s simple Golden Rules help us to work together to create a safe, calm, respectful and happy learning environment.  Through our curriculum, children are taught acceptable behaviour and conduct and learn the value and importance of working together. 

If a rule is broken, children are asked to reflect on what has happened through our restorative approach. Children are encouraged to identify and discuss what went wrong and are supported in understanding who has been affected and what they can do differently next time.  For more information, please see our Positive Behaviour Policy.

Individual Liberty

Making choices at Sawtry Infant School is important. We create an environment that is safe and supportive. It is hoped that this environment provides children with the confidence to make their own choices.

All children are encouraged to become good and valued citizens. This is achieved by guiding each child to become as independent as possible. Through different aspects of school life and curriculum activities, children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms.

They learn and are supported in understanding how to exercise these appropriately and safely through our personal development offer. Whether it be through PSHE lessons, choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in extracurricular clubs and opportunities… pupils are given the freedom to make choices. 

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is core to everyday life at Sawtry Infant School and all members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect.       

One of our Golden Rules is ‘we always respect each other and our school’. We believe that for children to live out our school vision of Life Learning it is key for them to be able to live and work alongside people from all backgrounds and cultures.

Displays around our school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our whole behaviour rules as well as in our behaviour policy. Respect is especially promoted through key events across the school year when children are supported in learning and understanding about different beliefs and cultures, many of which are integral to life in modern Britain. 

Children are given opportunities to go into the community to meet with a range of people in a variety of contexts which include: sports events, community events and shared participation with other schools. 

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

We aim to equip children with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and to provide them with rich opportunities to experience the diversity within our community and across the country. ‘Understanding and valuing others’ is one of our school values and is used to help children to respect faiths and beliefs that are different to their own.

Cultural appreciation and development are interwoven into our curriculum. Great emphasis is placed on providing encounters and participation in events and celebrations that enrich children’s experiences and awareness of others. We use opportunities such as the Olympics and the World Cup to study and learn about life and culture in other countries as well as our very popular International Week in the Summer Term. 

Sawtry Infant School is situated in an area which is not greatly culturally diverse, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance leaning within classes and the school.