At Tansley Primary School, we seek 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.

These values are visited regularly and in the following ways thorough the school year:

Democracy

Democracy is embedded within the everyday life of the school.  Each year all pupils decide upon their class charter and their class rules and the rights which are associated with these. 

Pupils also have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council.  Each pupils from Year Two onwards votes as a part of a school election to elect and select their school Council.  Children take part in hustings and give a speech for their chosen role.  Pupils in Reception and Year One vote as class to select their School Council Representative. The School Council plays an active part in wider school life and meets on a weekly basis with an agenda and actions to follow from these meetings.  The school is genuinely able to effect change within the school.   

Democracy is also actively practised in classes with children voting on a range of issues, such as how to improve the facilities in the school playground or on activities and treats.

The pupils are frequently encouraged to work as teams and in pairs to make decisions and to hear and respect the views of all parties as a part of cooperatively learning. 

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school or country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day including assemblies, as well as when dealing with behaviour.  Many of these rules are also taught through our PSHCE curriculum and circle times.  This also includes safety aspects such as road safety, firework safety, e-safety and fire safety.

Pupils are included in writing class rules and the decisions about how rules need to be observed, including the resolution when rules are not followed. They 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.

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 pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-Safety and PSHCE curriculum.

Pupils are educated in their rights to be safe from harm and ways to prevent this through assemblies lead by staff and visitors. Pupils are able to make educated choices about their learning challenges, how they record their learning, participation in our extra-curricular clubs, school lunches and other opportunities as they arise.  Stereotypes are actively challenged.

Mutual Respect

Our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around our values. Pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to the school values and respect. They are taught about what respect means and how it is shown. The school promotes respect for others and this is reiterated in our classroom environments, as well as our behaviour policy. Tansley Primary School promotes that pupils must also respect the rights of others to be treated kindly, to be safe and to be treated responsibly. Through our PSHE and circle time curriculum pupils learn to give their opinions constructively and respect those of others especially when they differ.  They also learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and the rights of others.  Respect is also reinforced through co-operatively learning practises where the children work in teams, both in class as group work and as larger teams such as our Houses teams as a part of our reward and celebration systems and the School Council.  The children are also taught about respect, bullying and online behaviour in the online world, through our e-safety lessons.  They also know what to do if they see something disrespectful.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

This is achieved through enhancing pupils' understanding of culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions are regularly planned to address the issue of prejudices and prejudice-based bullying either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Different faiths or religions are taught about to enhance learning within classes and the school assembles throughout the year and via faith days. Pupils visit places of worship and school resources are purchased with diversity in mind and to support pupils' understanding.  Tansley Primary School holds a Faith Week to enhance the pupils’s knowledge and understanding of different faiths.  This is also opened out the pupils families, giving the children the opportunity to pass on their knowledge and understanding.   We will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to the values we hold as a school, including ‘extremist’ views.