British Values

At Middlestown Primary Academy, we develop and promote British Values throughout our school and within our curriculum. A key part of our curriculum is to ensure that each child becomes a valuable and fully rounded member of society and who treats others with respect and leaves school fully prepared for life. We promote the following British Values at Middlestown Primary Academy:

• Democracy

This is evidenced through the election of our Head Boy and Head Girl, School Council and House Captains. Candidates make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative and pupils vote in secret using ballot boxes. The School Council is made up of 2 representatives from each class (Years 1-6). They meet weekly to discuss issues raised by the different classes. They also host fundraising activities to raise money for chosen charities.

Children are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinion and voices heard. We encourage children to take ownership of their learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.

Parents’ opinions are welcomed at Middlestown Primary Academy through methods such as questionnaires and surveys.

• The Rule of Law

At the start of each school year, each class discusses the school and class rules and class routines, and a class charter is created by the class which all children sign to show their agreement. These charters are displayed in in each class along with the whole school behaviour policy. Rewards are linked to housepoints which are collected in each class, and sanctions are linked to our Golden Time throughout school.

Children 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. These values are reinforced in different ways:
– Bikeability enable children to understand rules of the road and the potential dangers encountered should they break those rules
– During Religious Education, when rules for particular faiths are thought about
– During other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules

• Individual Liberty

Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment, we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely. Through our E-Safety days, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely.

Children in Years 5 and 6 are given key roles and responsibilities such as Activity Leaders and House Captains.

Through opportunities such as Golden Time, residential trips and lunch time activities, pupils are given the freedom to make safe choices. Children at Middlestown Primary Academy are encouraged to make choices knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.

• Mutual Respect

At Middlestown Primary Academy, we have high expectations of achievement and behaviour. Children are polite and kind and they listen to and respect each other. We teach the children that conflict can be dealt with calmly and fairly. We celebrate each other’s achievements during our whole-school assemblies on Fridays. We encourage the children to be polite through the use of our ‘Good Manners’ tokens.

Teachers plan exciting, interesting, challenging and innovative lessons where everybody is expected to do their best and respect others. Mutual respect is promoted across age groups as older children are given key roles and responsibilities to work alongside younger children.

Through E-Safety and Kindness Week, the children are taught to value differences in themselves and others and most importantly, to show respect to all.

• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Middlestown Primary Academy is proud to promote and celebrate different backgrounds and beliefs. Tolerance, politeness and mutual respect are at the heart of our aims, ethos and RE curriculum.

We follow the Wakefield Council agreed RE syllabus which ensures that all children learn about the different religions and teaches respect and understanding of cultures, beliefs, opinions and traditions of others.

We enhance pupils’ understanding and respect for different faiths and beliefs through:
– RE, PSHE and other lessons where we develop awareness and appreciation of other cultures
– Art and music when considering cultures from other parts of the world
– Celebrating cultural differences through assemblies, themed weeks (e.g. Multi-cultural week) and displays

Click on the link below to read further ways in which we promote British values in our school.