British Values Statement

At Burnside Academy we ensure that through our school ethos, daily school life, relationships, vision, values, rules, curriculum and teaching we relentlessly promote tolerance and respect for all cultures, faiths and lifestyles. We value the diversity of backgrounds of all pupils, families and wider community.

The Department for Education states that there is a 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”.

We actively promote British values in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is embedded within the life of our school. Each year, children decide on the rules for their own class and School Rules are annually reviewed with the children. School Council meets regularly and these children have been selected after making a presentation to their peers to persuade them why they should be elected. Each school council has been voted for by their class. The School Council is able to effect change within school. (Reviewing sports coaches within school, developing the curriculum and the learning environments, choosing charities to support, planning garden areas)

Head boy and girl and Deputy Head boy and girl are chosen by children presenting their ideas to the whole school and each child in the school having a vote.

Democracy is also actively practiced in classes with children voting on a range of issues, such as what they would like to learn about, how to improve playground facilities and which classroom novel they would like to purchase. Children fill in questionnaires which are fed into future school improvement planning. Assemblies and SEAL lessons explore how we influence democracy.

Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through pupil questionnaires and pupil surveys.

Rule of Law

The importance of laws is taught throughout school and covers the rules that govern the classroom, school and country. Pupils are taught that the rules are there to govern and protect them and are always helped to distinguish right from wrong. Rules and laws are taught in a cross curriculum manner. We have strong links to our community police support officer who comes into school on a regular basis to work with our children. The Behaviour and Anti-Bullying policies set out a zero tolerance baseline for any form of aggression, abuse or violence.

Individuality Liberty

Pupils are actively involved in shaping the curriculum and are encouraged to make choices in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we support children to exercise their individual liberty to make informed decisions on a variety of aspects, such as their choice of challenge, how to record their learning and present their work and the choice of after school clubs and activities. Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and pastoral support reinforces the importance of making the right choices.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

The school actively promotes mutual respect within all members of the school community.  We promote diversity through celebrations of different faiths and cultures, and RE lessons and assemblies challenge stereotypes. Pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faiths, ethnicity, disability, gender and differences in family situations. We actively challenge anyone in our community who expresses opinions contrary to the values that we hold as a school.