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British Values

FOREST OAK SCHOOL - BRITISH VALUES

The DfE have recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs”.

The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reinforced in 2014. These values fall into the following broad areas;

  1. Democracy
  2. The rule of law
  3. Individual liberty
  4. Mutual respect
  5. Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

These five areas are taught across the curriculum and threaded through the work of the school. The sense of community is very strong across the school – staff, pupils, Governors and families are all part of that community.

Underlined below are some of the ways the five areas are addressed within Forest Oak.

Democracy

At Forest Oak;

  • Children discuss and decide upon their specific class rules and the rights associated with these.  All the children contribute to the drawing up of the rules.
  • School Council, Class Council meetings. The council has its own agenda and is genuinely able to effect change within the school. Every child on the School Council is voted in by their class.
  • There are many opportunities for class debates.

FKS/KS1/Yr3

  • Children discuss and decide upon their specific class rules and the rights and responsibilities associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the rules.
  • There are many opportunities for class voting such as for the dining room, Big Hoot, Oakleigh (school dog) activities.
  • Pupils vote for who gets ’Proud Leaves’ each week.

KS2

  • Restorative Process – pupils input in relation to consequences.
  • Part of Eco-Committee and School Council – class vote for representative.
  • Class debates.
  • Playground friends.

KS3

  • Voting for a variety of activities such as ‘The Big Hoot’, ‘Proud Leaf’ winners, class rewards.
  • Circle times, check-ins, everyone gets their say.
  • Head Boy/Girl – pupils involved in interviews.
  • Pupil Panels for staff interviews.
  • ASDAN challenges linked to democracy.
  • RP – pupils able to have their say.

KS4

  • Citizenship lessons – Legal system, Government & Democracy.
  • RP check ins/circle times.
  • Student choices – rules, trips, rewards, Tuck Shop contents.
  • Trip/subject evaluations.

6th Form

  • In class – voting, rules, school council reps, individual RP’s
  • PSD – Democracy- Identity & cultural diversity, individual rights
  • COPE- Citizenship and community, opening minds
  • English – Class debates/ discussions
The Rule of Law

At Forest Oak;

  • The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country. Children are taught from an early age the rules of the school.
  • Children are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.
  • Visits from authorities such as the Police, RNLI, Transport Police (for railway safety) and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
  • The children are expected to sign a home school agreement and they are taught the rules to keep them safe online.
  • Children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.

FKS/KS1/Yr3

  • Restorative Practice Circles, promises, levels.
  • Behaviour plans.
  • Home/ School agreements.
  • Children taught class and school rules.
  • Visits from authorities such as police, fire service.
  • Children actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.

KS2

  • Restorative Practice – pupils understanding of levels of consequence/reward.
  • Class rewards.
  • Visitors and lessons re: roles of members of the community e.g. politicians.
  • Safe side.
  • Rights & Responsibilities – PSD and SEAL lessons.
  • Learning Right/Wrong in PSD lessons.

KS3

  • School and class rules.
  • Respect agenda in PSD curriculum.
  • History & Citizenship lessons – what the law is and why.
  • Visits to House of Commons.
  • Responsibilities within school to be part of maintaining school rules – Peer mediators.

KS4

  • Solihull Consumer Challenges.
  • Home/School contracts.
  • Behaviour plans.
  • ASDAN community unit.
  • Fire safety walk/ Safeside visit.
  • Visitors – police, fire.
  • Agreed class and school rules.
  • Work experience.
  • Community projects to care for locality.

6th Form

  • COPE- Citizenship & Community, Beliefs & Values, Vocational Preparation, Work Related Learning.
  • PSD – individual rights and responsibilities.
  • Short course – Citizenship – Law & Order module.
  • Class code of conduct – rules, privileges, consequences.
Individual Liberty

At Forest Oak;

  • Children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
  • As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education.
  • Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our eSafety, anti-bullying work and PSD lessons.
  • The children are encouraged to think, learn and work independently.
  • They are given a voice through school and class councils.

FKS/ KS1/Yr3

  • Children are actively encouraged to make choices – choosing dinner, what to play with, Golden Time activities.
  • Circle time, check in.
  • Children are encouraged to understand respect for each other and equipment, anti-bullying work and PSD lessons.
  • The children are encouraged to think, learn and work independently.

KS2

  • Tailored lessons to incorporate interests.
  • Choices of rewards.
  • Celebrating success through certificates etc.
  • Curriculum theme days.

KS3

  • Class rules chosen together.
  • Safe side visits.
  • Travel training.
  • Choose reward trips, merit times.
  • Choice of self management strategies.
  • RP- helps pupils find their voice.

KS4

  • Work experience.
  • Travel training.
  • Options for certain subjects/work experience.
  • Taking part in clubs.
  • Behaviour choices – staff role models for behaviour reminders.
  • Relationship education- choices and saying ‘NO’.
  • School council – interviewing new staff.
  • Class jobs.
  • Pupil led learning.

6th Form

  • COPE – Independent Living, Citizenship and Community, Health & Fitness.
  • PSD – Individual Rights, Money Management, Preparation for Work, Healthy Living.
  • Expressive Arts – Opening Minds module.
  • Choices of options, topics in ASDAN challenges.
  • Class discussion/debates.
  • School Council.
  • Becoming more independent.
Mutual Respect

At Forest Oak;

  • Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others.
  • All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

FKS/ KS1/Yr3

  • Praising each other for their achievements.
  • Respect for animals – Donkey’s, Oakleigh.
  • Feelings check in.
  • Assemblies.
  • Circle times.
  • Restorative Processes.

KS2

  • Check in’s.
  • Emotions board.
  • Proud Leaf assemblies.
  • Star of the week/Super Hero.
  • Golden Time reward parties.
  • Wellbeing day.
  • RP circles/Talk & Sort.
  • Chill rooms.

KS3

  • Celebrations of achievements – Proud leaf, merit time, trophy assemblies.
  • Parent coffee mornings.
  • Citizenship – learning about responsibilities and rights.
  • Peer mediators, playground friends.
  • PSD lessons.

KS4

  • RP – promise cards
  • Links with other schools – Smith’s Wood Sports College, Merstone
  • Mixed events for Creative Arts Week, sports day, themed days, Unity events.
  • Citizenship – Human Rights.
  • Team building activities.
  • Showing mutual respect to others.

6th Form

  • COPE – Beliefs & Values, Independent Living, Vocational Preparation, Work Related Learning, International links.
  • Opening minds modules – Relating to people, Managing student.
  • Class code of conduct.
  • Rights and responsibilities, consequences and rewards
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

At Forest Oak;

  • We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education lessons and PSD lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others.
  • The children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. Celebrations and festival of other cultures are embraced e.g. Diwali, Chinese New Year etc.

FKS/KS1/Yr3

  • RE lessons.
  • PSD lessons – tolerance and respect for others.
  • Assemblies.
  • Educational visits to places of worship that are important to different faiths.
  • Celebrations and festival of other cultures are embraced e.g. Diwali, Chinese New Year etc.

KS2

  • Black History month.
  • Topic work – Africa/ Aboriginal/Indian art, music.
  • MFL – Language & culture of Spain.
  • Themed assemblies/concerts.

KS3

  • Assemblies.
  • School visitors.
  • Integration with inner city school – multi-cultural.
  • Educational visits to places of worship, Asian market.
  • Religious celebrations.

KS4

  • Joint assemblies.
  • ASDAN modules –Beliefs & Values.
  • Work Experience.
  • Global Citizenship.
  • RE ASDAN unit - Peace & Justice/different religions.

6th Form

  • COPE – Beliefs & Values, International links, Expressive arts.
  • Short course – International & Opening Minds.
  • Class discussions/debates.
  • Code of conduct.
  • Current affairs/news.
  • Festival days.