British Values
British Values at Blackheath Primary School
British Legion at Blackheath
On Friday, we were presented with the trophy from the British Legion because we raised the most money for Remembrance Day out of all the schools in Rowley and Cradley. We raised over £800 and were the winning school for the third year running! Thank you to all parents and pupils who supported us.
At Blackheath Primary School, we value the diverse ethnic backgrounds of all our pupils and families. Respect is the core principle which underpins our school values and as a school, we actively promote respect and tolerance for the differences in our community and the wider world.
As a whole school, we celebrate a wide range of religious festivals including Diwali, Chinese New Year, Eid, Easter and Christmas through a variety of engaging and educational activities. We also have a ‘Culture week’ in October where children take part in activities linked to Black History Month and join in with Samba drumming workshops and other cultural activities.
As part of our new curriculum, we also deliver a range of topics which have strong links to the British Empire;
- In Year One, pupils learn about significant local people and Sir Francis Beaufort, an officer in Britain’s Royal Navy through their topic work in history.
- In Year Two, pupils learn about Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his work on The Great Western Railway, as well Captain James Cook, a British explorer and captain in the Royal Navy and Grace Darling, who was pivotal in rescuing survivors from the shipwrecked Forfashire in 1836.
- In Year Three, pupils learn all about James Lind, a Scottish physician, famed for conducting the first ever clinical trial.
- In Year Four, pupils learn all about the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain. They also learn about Anglo Saxon and Vikings and have great fun re-enacting an Anglo Saxon battle.
- Year Five pupils learn all about the most influential scientist of all time, Sir Isaac Newton PRS MP and his role as a key figure in the scientific revolution. They also learn about how Britain has significantly changed during the last century.
- Pupils in Year Six learn about The Victorians and what life was like during the Victorian Era. They learn all about Social reformers and their impact on society as well as undertaking an intense topic about World War Two and the impact that the military had in fighting for the British Empire.
We believe that by studying about significant figures in British History, we are providing our pupils with a strong sense of aspiration and British Culture.
BLACKHEATH PRIMARY SCHOOL BRITISH VALUES
British Value | Statement | Evidence | Impact |
Mutual Respect and the Tolerance of those with different Faiths and Beliefs | Respect is a fundamental school value, around which pivots much of the work of the school. We pay explicit attention to this as part of our RE, PHSE, and SMSC curriculum. Respect is a school value that is discussed deeply, starting with self-respect and covering respect for family, friends, and other groups; the world and its people; and the environment. Our school values use the letters RESPECT to promote responsibility, empathy, smart, politeness, empower, care and team. | Collective Worship planning. RE curriculum RE planning and pupil books. Learning Walks for behaviour and behaviour for learning. School Values statement. SMSC in the curriculum document. Black History Culture week planning / pupil work. Visits to religious settings from different faiths. These include 4 places of worship by the time children leave school. | Children can articulate why respect is important; how they show respect to others and how they feel about it for themselves. Children’s behaviour demonstrates their good understanding of this value in action. Children are able to talk about the different faiths and cultures they learn about, ask questions and show tolerance and respect for others of different faiths and religions in order to live and work harmoniously to live in a modern, multicultural British society. |
Democracy | The children see democracy borne out in a whole variety of ways and see this as being an essential component of successful team working. Democracy is part of our school ethos that children meet when discussing respect and fairness. Children are voted in to responsible roles within the school such as school council. | Votes for Schools Election of Pupil Leadership Team. School Council minutes and records. Pupil leadership team records of meetings. Collective Worship planning RE planning and work books. Learning Walks for behaviour and behaviour for learning School Values statement. | Children are able to work co-operatively in pairs and groups as well as in whole class situations. They understand about turn taking and respecting the views of others. Children in KS2 in particular are able to use the language of respect, e.g. I agree with/ I don’t agree with…’ through their discussions and debates. |
Rule of Law | The children are familiar with this through our philosophy that infuses the entire work of the school. They are familiar with the concept through RE lesson, SEAL and PSHE lessons, and the idea that different religions have guiding principles. Children are used to debating and discussing laws/rules and their application. Opportunities are planned for pupils to learn about the rule of law and the legal system during parliament week. | Class Rules School Code of Conduct/Learning Behaviours. School Values. PSHE/Citizenship lessons on the role of law and parliament. School Council minutes and records. Collective Worship planning. RE planning and pupil books. Learning Walks for behaviour and behaviour for learning. School Values statement. | Children are able to articulate how and why we need to behave in school and the local community and demonstrate they understand and can abide by these. They are able to discuss and debate philosophical issues in relation to these. |
Individual Liberty | School based discussions and acts of worship begin with discussion about the self, e.g. self –respect and self-worth in relation to the individual value so that children see that they are important in their own right. The philosophy of our teaching and learning places emphasis on the right to have our own thoughts and views. Children are strongly encouraged to develop independence in learning and to think for themselves; our ‘Empower’ value embodies this. Pupil voice is also represented through our pupil leadership teams . | PSHE books. Planning. School Values. Pupil Leadership Committee booklets | Children understand about the importance of accepting responsibility and of their right to be heard in school. They are consulted on many aspects of school life and demonstrate independence of thought and action. |