British Values
The Department for Education has published guidance on promoting British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. This is how we do this at Coppice School.
British Values
Democracy
In lessons: Pupils are encouraged to fairly share time, resources and taking turns. Children vote on the options they can access during ‘options’ each week.
During playtimes and lunch: Pupils are encouraged to fairly share time, resources and taking turns. Turn taking and fairness are promoted.
General day to day: We encourage children to vote who they believe is the class star of the week. We have a school council who vote on school decisions as a representative of their peers. The school has an active governing body who vote on key areas of the school.
After school: Children vote on the activities they wish to do in after school club.
With parents: Meeting with parents about how we can make changes to help them and their child. Parent questionnaires and advice about Parent View is promoted through the school website and newsletters.
Areas we need to develop: Children will be allowed to evaluate certain areas of the school through ballot type boxes eg. lessons, lunches they have eaten, assemblies. This will provide them with a stronger voice.
Law
In lessons: Children are reminded daily about rules of the classroom and are actively encouraged to demonstrate these. Rewards and sanctions exist in classrooms which promote positive adherence to the class rules. All pupils are involved in setting class rules at the beginning of the year.
During playtimes and lunch: Children are reminded daily about rules of the playground and dinner hall and are actively encouraged to demonstrate these. Rewards and sanctions exist at playtime and lunchtime which promote positive adherence to the class rules.
General day to day: Children are reminded daily about rules when in the community and are actively encouraged to demonstrate these. Rewards and sanctions exist when on visits which promote positive adherence to the class rules.
After school: Children are reminded daily about rules of the after school club and on transport and are actively encouraged to demonstrate these. Rewards and sanctions exist which promote positive adherence to the afterschool club and transport rules.
With parents: Parents are reminded of their responsibilities in meetings. Home/School agreements are signed. We support parents with behaviour and setting boundaries with their child, if requested to do so.
Areas we need to develop: Children are involved in creating class rules. However they should be allowed to create rules for other areas of the school community eg. playtimes and assemblies.
Liberty
In lessons: Children are encouraged to make choices about their learning, social interactions and free time. Children can access a variety of activities of their choosing during ‘Choose time’ each week.
During playtimes and lunch: Children make an active choice about the foods and snacks they drink at break and lunch time. They are given a variety of clubs and activities to choose from.
General day to day: A variety of communication and mobility aids are provided which allows those with communication difficulties to interact with the world around them. For those children who require them; communication aids are provided. We respect all cultures and religions and celebrate the positives that these promote.
After school: Children are consulted about activities provided by the school in our after school club.
With parents: Parents have a greater choice of their child’s school provision and are provided with information regarding personal budgets. We discuss choice-making with parents when their child does not have a voice.
Areas we need to develop: Children should be allowed to sit with who they wish at lunchtimes. We are currently looking at how we arrange lunchtimes to allow for this.
Mutual Respect
In lessons: Children explore the feelings of others through daily activities and bespoke lessons. During lessons pupils are encouraged listen and respect others views.
During playtimes and lunch: During playtimes and lunchtimes pupils are encouraged to listen and respect others views.
General day to day: All staff are encouraged to respect the views of other staff.
After school: During afterschool clubs pupils are encouraged to listen and respect others views.
With parents: We consult with families when we are making big decisions which will affect them and their child.
Areas we need to develop: Children within school generally respect each other and the staff. We need to encourage more opportunities to work with other groups in society such as the elderly, more mainstream school links and the emergency services for example.
