Millbrook Infant School

The Government set out its definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. These values were reiterated in 2014 when guidance made clear a “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.”  

Millbrook Infant School uses strategies within the National Curriculum and beyond to meet this requirement.  The examples that follow show some of the many ways Millbrook seeks to embed British values.

Democracy

We have an active School Council at Millbrook Infant School and every child who is a school council rep, is voted in by their class. Topics for discussion are identified with the children, then all pupils have an opportunity to contribute to their class's ideas. The school council meet regularly with the Headteacher to feed back class discussions on a range of areas.

At the beginning of each academic year each class works with its teacher to agree class rules.

Other examples of democracy within the school include voting on favourite books and selecting comics for their book boxes.

Children have an annual questionnaire in which they are able to put forward their views about the school.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those linked to the class, the school, or the country, are addressed at Millbrook through our everyday interactions, through our school assemblies and also when dealing with behaviour in school. 

On entry to Foundation Stage pupils are taught the rules of the school - our “Golden Rules” and the school values. Golden Rules are displayed around the school and individual class rules are agreed and shared in each class. Playground rules are taught and reinforced early in the academic year.

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and rewards and consequences are explained to them. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message. This also links to one of our Millbrook values of safety.

Individual Liberty

At Millbrook, children are encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment.

We support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. Children are taught, through the PSHEE curriculum as well as assemblies, to respect others and let others have a voice. We encourage independence as far as possible and independence is another of our school values. The content of the SEAL element “good to be me” is very relevant here.  We also implement a clear anti-bullying culture and use protective behaviours work.

Mutual Respect

This area is well covered, both through our curriculum and in assemblies. Respect is one of our school values and is evident in day to day interactions. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

This is well covered through the RE curriculum and assemblies where our pupils begin to find out about differences and similarities between faiths.

We follow Northamptonshire’s agreed RE syllabus that develops pupils' knowledge and understanding of different faiths. Children are able to visit places of worship that are important to the faiths we cover as part of the curriculum.