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British Values and Protected Characteristics

British Value

At Sparken Hill Academy, we develop and promote British Values throughout our school and within our curriculum.

 

We want every school to promote the basic British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs.” Lord Nash

 

A key part of our plan for education is to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

 

British Values

 

  1. The Rule of Law
  2. Democracy
  3. Individual Liberty
  4. Mutual Respect
  5. Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs

 

To do this our children will develop;

 

  • An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
  • An understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
  • An acceptance that people having different faiths and beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of discriminatory behaviour
  • An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination

 

The mission statement and aims of the school clearly reflect these values, and the whole school strives to uphold them.

 

Mission Statement

 

Our school is committed to providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment. We value and promote shared personal achievement, high standards and respect for the individual. We believe that by working together we build an understanding of one another and develop the self-esteem of every individual.

 

This mission statement represents the principles that we strive towards at Sparken Hill Academy. Throughout our prospectus we hope to show how we translate these aims into practice.

 

 

 

As a school, we value and celebrate the diverse heritages of everybody at Sparken Hill Academy. Alongside this, we value and celebrate being part of Britain.

 

In general terms, this means that we celebrate traditions and customs in the course of the year; for example, Harvest Festival during the Autumn term and pantomime time at Christmas. We also value and celebrate national focusses, recent examples being; Macmillan Coffee Morning, Roald Dahl Day, Chinese New Year and Safer Internet Day, with many more opportunities planned in throughout the year to collaborate with the wider community and world e.g. Children In Need

 

Further to this, children learn about being part of Britain from different perspectives. Two specific examples of when we teach about being part of Britain are:

 

Geographically: Our rivers, coasts and seaside holiday topics ensure that children have a better understanding of what Britain is, learning more about:

  • Physical Geography (e.g. coasts, rivers and mountains etc)
  • where Britain is in relation to the rest of Europe and other countries in the world

 

Historically:

Key moments in British history are studied in the topics such as ‘Great Fire of London” and significant historical figures.

 

The table below is an indication of where we can find evidence to show that British Values are an intrinsic part of school life at Sparken Hill Academy.

 

Value

Evidence

Democracy

  • Mission Statement
  • School Council

Children, parents and staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard at Sparken Hill Academy. Democracy is central to how we operate.


An obvious example is our School Council. The election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: candidates make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative, pupils vote in secret using ballot boxes etc. Made up of one representative from each class, the School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes. The council has its own budget and is able to effect change within the school; in the past, the School Council has hosted fundraising activities and helped to provide equipment for our school grounds as selected by the children. The Council are actively involved in providing teachers with feedback.

 

Another example of ‘pupil voice’ is:

•children are asked to respond and reflect on the teaching and learning they receive as well as make suggestions for the School Council to consider.

 

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. We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.

 

Parents’ opinions are welcomed at Sparken Hill through methods such as questionnaires, surveys, Parent coffee mornings and opportunities to comment on whole school matters e.g. After school provision.

 

 

The Rule of Law

  • Mission Statement/ School aims
  • Relationships and Behaviour Regulation Policy
  • Display of Golden Rules around school incl in every classroom,
  • Playground rules (displayed on playground walls in each Key Stage)
  • Lunchtime rules
  • Playground buddies
  • Curriculum links e.g. Crime and Punishment themes

The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices. At the start of the school year, each class discusses the school rules and class routines, principles that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment, these rules are displayed in each class along with the Code of Conduct of the school. These rules play a fundamental role in our behaviour sanctions and rewards and are linked to our Golden Time throughout.

 

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves, and the consequences when laws are broken. These values are reinforced in different ways:

  • Visits from authorities such as the police and fire service
  • Cycling Proficiency lessons enable children to understand the rules of the road and the potential dangers encountered should they break those rules.
  • During Religious Education, when rules for particular faiths are thought about
  • During other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules

 

 

 

Individual Liberty

  • Mission Statement/School aims

Relationships and Behaviour Regulation Policy

  • P.S.H.E policy
  • Displays of children’s activities
  • Children’s key roles and responsibilities

Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment, we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely; for example:

  • choices about how they can improve their learning
  • choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities

 

Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our PSHE lessons.

 

Collective worship is used to both explore and support the school’s values. By teaching the children how to manage and understand emotions they will be motivated and equipped to:

  • Be effective and successful learners
  • Make and sustain friendships
  • Deal with and resolve conflict evenly and fairly
  • Solve problems with others by themselves
  • Manage strong feelings such as frustration, anger or anxiety
  • Be able to promote calm and optimistic states that promote the achievement of goals
  • Recover from setbacks and persist in the face of difficulties
  • Work and play cooperatively
  • Compete fairly and win or lose with dignity and respect for all competitors
  • Recognise and stand up for their rights and the rights of others
  • Understand the value the differences and commonalities between people, respecting the rights of others to have beliefs and values different to their own.
  • To respect and value our world, and the things, both material and alive that exist within it.

Children in Year 5 and 6 are given key roles and responsibilities such as Play leaders, Playground Buddies, Reading Buddies, Sports ambassadors, Head Pupils and House Captains to name but a few, .

Through opportunities such as our extra-curricular and Lunch Time clubs, Golden Time and Residential Trips, pupils are given the freedom to make safe choices.

Children at Sparken Hill  are encouraged to make choices knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment.

 

Mutual respect

  • Mission Statement/School aims

Relationships and Behaviour Regulation Policy

  • P.S.H.E policy
  • Roles and Responsibilities
  • Display of children’s activities
  • Display of positive values around school

We have high expectations of achievement and behaviour. Children and staff are polite and kind. We believe everyone has their own special gifts and we are expected to use them.

We listen and respect each other. We teach the children that conflict will be dealt with calmly and fairly. All members of the school family are valued equally.

We celebrate each other’s achievements whether that be in or out of school through our weekly mentions Assemblies.

Teachers plan exciting, interesting, challenging and innovative lessons where everybody is expected to do their best and respect others.

When our older children are given key roles and responsibilities to work alongside younger children this helps to promote mutual respect across the age phases. E.g. Reading buddies, Lunchtime Play Leaders and Playground Buddies

 

Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs

  • Mission Statement /school aims
  • P.S.H.E policy
  • R.E. policy
  • Alternative faith work as part of the R.E curriculum coverage

 

Sparken Hill Academy is proud to promote and celebrate our different backgrounds and beliefs. Tolerance, politeness and mutual respect are at the heart of our aims, ethos and R.E curriculum.

 

Our aims, “for all children to achieve the highest standards of attainment within the school’s ethos of a total commitment to the practice and principles of equal opportunities” and “children and adults of Sparken Hill Academy have equal access to every aspect of school life regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, transgender, religion, ability, special educational need or other protected characteristic”, drives us towards ensuring that our pupils are able to live and work alongside people from all backgrounds and cultures. This will be particularly necessary in a future where due to technological advances will make the 'world a smaller place.'

Our pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone and to everything, whatever differences we may have. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community are encouraged to treat each other with respect. Our number one core golden rule is to have “respect for everyone and everything”.

 

Specific examples of how we at Sparken Hill  Academy enhance pupils’ understanding and respect for different faiths and beliefs are:

 

  • Through Religious Education, PSHE and other lessons where we develop awareness and appreciation of other cultures
  • In English / Literacy through fiction and in art and music by considering cultures from other parts of the world.

 

  • Celebrating cultural differences through assemblies, themed weeks, noticeboards and displays.

 

Children are encouraged to share their own experiences when celebrating their own faith. Daily worship reflects and teaches the children tolerance for different faiths and beliefs.

 

Activities within school support both children and adults of different or no faith, the children are taught respect and tolerance of these groups and the opinions of the groups are taken into account with all activities.

Whilst instances contrary to our values are relatively rare, each is treated seriously in line with our policies and expectations.

 

 

PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS 

 

 

 

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain in protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have. Under the Act there are nine characteristics:

 

 

  1. Age
  2. Disability
  3. Gender reassignment
  4. Race
  5. Religion or belief
  6. Marriage or civil partnership
  7. Sex
  8. Sexual orientation
  9. Pregnancy and maternity

 

Under the Equality Act you are protected from discrimination:

  • When you are in the workplace
  • When you use public services like healthcare (for example, visiting your doctor or hospital, or education.
  • When you use businesses and other organisations that provide services and good (like shops, restaurants and cinemas)
  • When you use transport
  • When you join a club or association (for example a local football club)
  • When you have contact with public bodies like your local council 

 

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:

  • Our Academy ethos statements, SIP and SEF
  • Our Academy core values
  • Our Academy Behaviour Policy
  • Conscious role modelling by all adults in our Academy community
  • Active engagement and communication with our parents and carers
  • British Values promoted
  • Discussions within curriculum subjects utilising a cross-curricular approach
  • Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) lessons
  • Sporting, Art and Culture
  • RE lessons
  • Pupil Voice
  • Educational visits
  • External agencies giving talks - real life learning
  • Developing links with local, national and international communities
  • Extra curricular activities

 

At Sparken Hill Academy we embed these Protected Characteristics within our ethos which promotes:

  • Self-esteem and self confidence
  • Respect for Democracy and for participation in the democratic process
  • Acceptance of responsibility for their own behaviour
  • Respect for their own and others cultures
  • Understanding how they can contribute positively to school and home life and to the lives of those living and working in the locality and further afield
  • An understanding of Equality, Human Rights and Protected Characteristics
  • An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process
  • An appreciation that living under the law protects individual citizens and is essential for their well-being and safety
  • An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law
  • An acceptance that other people having different faiths and beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
  • An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination

 

 

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