In accordance with guidance from the Department for Education, Thomlinson Junior School actively promotes British values, ensuring our young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.

The guidance aims to help schools understand their responsibilities in this area. We have a duty to ‘actively promote’ the fundamental British values of:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. 
   

Where can you find British Values in Thomlinson Junior School?

Examples of the understanding and knowledge pupils will learn include:

• 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 or 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 combatting discrimination

Examples of actions we can take to promote British values are to:

• include in suitable parts of the curriculum - as appropriate for the age of pupils - material on the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of democracy, and how democracy and the law works in Britain, in contrast to other forms of government in other countries
• ensure all pupils within the school have a voice that is listened to, and demonstrate how democracy works by actively promoting democratic processes such as a school council whose members are voted for by the pupils
• use opportunities such as general or local elections to hold mock elections to promote fundamental British values and provide pupils with the opportunity to learn how to argue and defend points of view
• consider the role of extra-curricular activity, including any run directly by pupils, in promoting fundamental British values

Mutual Respect

This is the belief that we treat others with dignity and recognise their value.  We care about other people’s feelings and treat them in the way that we would want to be treated.

How do we show MUTUAL RESPECT in our school?

• We listen to others.
• We wait our turn to speak.
• We use our manners when speaking to others.
• We share.
• We respond in an appropriate manner to others.
• We look after school equipment and property.
• In the playground, we put our rubbish in the bin.
• Reading Mentors help other children to find suitable books in the library.
• We enjoy making links within our community - our School Council made Christmas hampers for the local Residential Care Homes.
• We enjoy learning about religious festivals such as Diwali.
   

Tolerance

This is the understanding that we are all different and have different beliefs and values. We accept and respect this and think that we are no more important or better than anyone else.

How do we show TOLERANCE in our school?

• We learn and celebrate all religions in our school.
• We learn from each other and understand more about our differences.
• When children from a different country have joined our school, they have sometimes spoken a different language.  We have welcomed them and accepted their differences.
• Some children in our school have a disability.  We accept and respect their differences.
• When we take part in festivals or competitions, we respect and accept that we all have different strengths and abilities.  
• In our lessons, we hear opinions that are different from our own.  We accept and respect these.
   

Rule of Law

This is the belief that rules and laws should be fair and help everyone to live safely and happily. It also involves everyone working hard to follow the rules and laws.

How do we show RULE OF LAW in our school?

• We have classroom rules and a School Charter.  We follow these rules to keep us safe and happy.
• When using the OPAL equipment, we have special rules to follow to stop us from hurting ourselves.
• During circle time, in our JIGSAW (PSHE) lessons, we only speak if we are holding our JIGSAW character.
• When we are playing football or any others sports, we follow the rules.
• In the dinner hall, we line up, while we are waiting to be served.
• We all wear our school uniform.
• We are taught to understand how our actions and behaviours have consequences, and how they affect others.
   

Individual Liberty

This is the belief that all people have the right to live and express themselves as they choose. It involves the human rights of all being respected and protected.

How do we show INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY in our school?

• We learn about the United Nations and the Human Rights Act in our JIGSAW (PSHE) lessons.
• We can choose who we want to play with at break.
• In Circle Time, we can choose to ‘pass’ or to join in.
• We label our school clothes so that we know that they belong to us.  No one takes something that doesn’t belong to them.
• In our lessons, we can express our thoughts and opinions on all sorts of topics.
• We can choose if we want to go on residentials.
• We are encouraged to try different activities so that we can choose which we prefer. 
• In English, we have read about famous historical figures who have fought for equal rights, such as Rosa Parks.