In June 2014, Michael Gove reinforced that all schools should actively promote ‘British Values’. The then Education Secretary made the pledge after the “Trojan Horse” investigations in Birmingham instigated the alleged takeover of the city’s schools by hard line Islamists. Our rationale that follows will detail, the British values proposed by Michael Gove and David Cameron, concerns and criticisms of this proposal, what we already do at Claregate Primary School and new ideas to promote British Values further in our school.

 

British Values

The government set out its definition of British Values in the 2011 “Prevent” Strategy. These are the values of: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

In November 2014 subsequent guidance was published by The Department for Education states:

 

Through their provision of SMSC, schools should:

 

• enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;

• enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;

• encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;

• enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;

• further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;

• encourage respect for other people; and

• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

 

Find out more about how we promote British Values at Claregate Primary School by viewing the below documents:

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