At Holbrook, the British Values run through all areas of school life. Our ethos of mutual respect and tolerance is reinforced in the classroom and on the playground. Our curriculum celebrates diversity and links are made where appropriate to all British Values. Assemblies and diversity weeks help focus children on a range of issues and help them build an understanding of their communities and values. We actively seek ways in which children can have their say so they understand how they make a contribution to their community.

‘Shaped by the vision, the curriculum enables pupils to see themselves as part of a diverse world.

SIAMS, Nov 2024

Democracy – what do we do?

• Parliament Week: Each year we have a whole school focus during Parliament Week, when children learn about democracy and government and find out about the role of MPs.
• School Council: Children vote each year for their school councillors. Each term they take a school improvement focus which they decide upon after speaking to children and grown ups.
• Children can join taskforces in school to work on projects, collecting everyone's ideas to shape what we do. We help children to understand that they can have a positive impact by addressing issues on a local, national or international scale.

Rule of law – what do we do?

• Ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair;
• Class rules and celebration of adhering to these rules;
• Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong;
• Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made;
• Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals;
• Explore within our Personal Development Lessons laws and what to do if peer pressure is trying to persuade children to break these;
• Produce child-friendly documents with our children for key areas such as anti-bullying and complaints.
• In assemblies we look at what goes on in the world and consider how laws are made.

Individual liberty – what do we do?

• Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem, self-confidence;
• Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights;
• Lessons and assemblies around the protected characteristics
• Challenge stereotypes;
• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture;
• E-Safety units of work are taught throughout school and parents and staff receive training on this area.

Mutual Respect and tolerance of different cultures and religions– what do we do?

• Explore positive role models through our topics which reflect the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act;
• Our Behaviour approach is based on positive relationships and mutual respect;
• Termly diversity weeks to explore and celebrate a range of communities, including Black History Month and LGBTQ+ week;
• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour;
• Focussed work on friendship building through assemblies and in small groups for those who need the most support;
• Children visit a variety of places of worship throughout their time at Holbrook, and celebrate cultures through music, dance, food or festival focussed workshops;
• Our RE curriculum ensures that our children have a good understanding of a range of religious beliefs and customs;
• Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life;
• All staff are trained to look for signs of extremism and this is included as part of the PSHE and online safety curriculum.

Pupils at Holbrook are empowered to use their voice to speak out against social injustice and be agents of change

SIAMS, Nov 2024