British Values

Promoting British Values Across the Curriculum at Holmesdale Infant School

Holmesdale Infant School is committed to serving its community and surrounding areas. It recognises and appreciates the range of different cultures within school and further afield, this is reflected in our Curriculum planning.

Our pupils show interest in exploring different faiths and we show respect for cultural diversity, promoting tolerance and positive attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups.

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.”

Our school Vision Statement is to be the ‘Best Me I Can Possibly Be’ and one of our aims is to promote high achievement and learning for life by working with children to ‘appreciate, respect and value the multicultural nature of our society.’

This underpins all that we do, and at Holmesdale we are passionate in promoting enquiring minds, confidence and high self-esteem and respect for themselves and others.

Democracy: Democracy is part of the day to day life within the school. It is modelled by all staff within the building who ‘show tolerance and respect for the rights of others,’ and ‘act with integrity and honesty’ [Code of Conduct 2014].

Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard on a daily basis, with adults taking the time to listen and respond. Pupils can also have their voices heard via the school council [voted for by the children] and eco-committee, Eco Warriors.

Class decisions are often made by allowing children to vote on different choices after hearing and reviewing the options.

The Rule of Law: Each class have a set of ‘rules or ‘rights’ that are created by the children and agreed by everyone working in the classroom. The importance of Laws, rules and rights are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. 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. Pupils have regular opportunities to reflect, discuss and share through assemblies, class discussion and school council.

Parental questionnaires are sent home annually, with questions relating to behaviour and communication.

Individual Liberty: Within school, pupils 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 choices safety, through provision of a safe environment and a culture of independent learning. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons.

Respect: Respect for self and each other is a value that is at the centre of our school ethos. Ofsted 2013 ‘Pupils show respect and consideration for each other and for the adults around them. The children have worked with staff to achieve the ‘STOP’ anti-bullying award and regularly take part in assemblies that promote respect for others.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs: We value the importance of helping to shape the pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Our curriculum plans include celebrating festivals around the world such as Eid, Suk4kot, Diwali and Harvest.

We follow the Derbyshire agreed R.E. curriculum.

Spiritual,Moral,Social and Cultural Learning at Holmesdale

British Values at Holmesdale

SMSC Plan 2023-2024