British Values

Bristish values

Our School

Many of our children come from service families, bringing a rich diversity to our school that we welcome and celebrate. Approximately 50% of pupils come from minority ethnic groups, especially from a Nepali heritage and over a third of pupils speak English as an additional language. Consequently, we wish to embrace the multi-cultural dynamic of our school by celebrating cultural differences, whilst also building a fundamental sense of togetherness and establishing core British values. It is important to us that every child is treated as an individual, inspired to achieve and celebrated for their skills and abilities.

Definitions and Terminology

  • SMSC- Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education
  • British Values- promoting the fundamental British values of the democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
  • DfE- Department for Education

Our Aims

As stated by the DFE (2014, p4), ‘All maintained schools must meet the requirements set out in section 78 of the Education Act 2002 and promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils.’  British Values are incorporated within the areas of SMSC. Therefore, by actively seeking to enhance our pupils’ SMSC development, we are simultaneously able to promote core British Values throughout the school.

Teaching and promoting SMSC enables our children to develop a deep-sense of self whilst also guiding pupils to develop the skills of empathy in order to treat others with respect and tolerance.  Through the promotion of SMSC, we have developed a mind-set in pupils whereby they feel confident, content and included as a responsible and valued member of society.

At Talavera Junior School, we prioritise the development of SMSC amongst our pupils and therefore achieve our stated aims by:

  • Providing opportunities for children to recognise and appreciate their unique diversity whilst developing their self-esteem
  • Guiding pupils to make their own decisions whilst also distinguishing between right and wrong
  • Allowing students to develop responsibility within the school and within the wider community
  • Exposing children to different cultures and beliefs whilst celebrating both similarities and differences
  • Providing opportunities that encourage children to respect themselves, others and our country as a whole
  • Teaching pupils how to voice their ideas and opinions both within the school and local community

 Promoting SMSC and British Values

SMSC and British Values are embedded within the core-foundations of our school. Consequently, we promote SMSC as follows:

  • Discrete lessons provided within our bespoke PSHE curriculum (see curriculum planning for specific links)
  • Statutory teaching of Religious Education
  • Collective worship (daily assemblies including Tuesday padre assemblies) and church visits
  • Fundraisers and community projects
  • School trips and out-of-school events
  • Cultural festivals/ event celebrations
  • Providing roles and responsibilities within the school
  • Competitive house events
  • Themed events such as: British Day, Anti-Bullying Week etc…
  • Reward systems and celebration assemblies