British Values
“We are kind and friendly to everyone because God made us and loves us all.”
From football and fish & chips to queueing and talking about the weather, there are many ways to define Britishness. Our children have lived through historical times for our country, including Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the WW1 centenary, and hugely successful British Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, they are also growing up in a diverse multicultural society that continues to be troubled by the threat of terrorism.
It is therefore vital that we give our children a sense of belonging and connectedness to the wider community, and to the country in which they live. We do this by promoting British values, helping them to develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain. It is important too for them to understand they live in a global society, since “British” values are also shared by many other countries and cultures.
Education regulations state that to meet the standard for the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of pupils, schools must actively promote the fundamental British values of
- Democracy
- The Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Democracy
At Coleshill CE Primary School, democracy is lived out through our vision “With God’s love, we grow and flourish together,” where every voice is valued because every person is made in God’s image. Pupils learn that their views matter and that they have a responsibility to contribute positively to their community. Through pupil leadership roles, school council, class discussions and debate across the curriculum, pupils develop self-knowledge, self-confidence and the ability to express their views respectfully. Learning about public institutions, including Parliament and local government, helps pupils understand how decisions are made and how they can influence change. Our curriculum encourages pupils to think critically and evaluate different viewpoints, ensuring that where political issues arise, pupils are presented with balanced perspectives rather than partisan views. This prepares pupils to become thoughtful, responsible citizens who understand their role in democratic society.
Rule of Law
Guided by our Christian values of love, reconciliation and justice, pupils are taught the importance of rules in keeping people safe and enabling communities to flourish. Through our vision, “With God’s love, we grow and flourish together,” pupils learn that laws and rules exist to protect individuals and support the common good. The relevance and importance of laws — whether those governing our classrooms, the school or the country — are consistently reinforced through daily school life and across the curriculum.
Our Behaviour Policy provides clear boundaries, celebrates pupils who meet and exceed expectations, and supports pupils to improve when expectations are not met. Rooted in reconciliation and restoration, we take a justice-led approach to behaviour, ensuring pupils are listened to, conflicts are resolved peacefully and pupils understand why behaviour choices may have been inappropriate and how they can make better choices in the future. This approach promotes responsibility, reflection and mutual respect, helping pupils to distinguish right from wrong and understand the impact of their actions on others.
Through PSHE, RE and wider curriculum learning, pupils develop an understanding of fairness, responsibility and the role of civil and criminal law in England. We also benefit from strong links with our local community, including work with the police and other services, helping pupils understand how rules operate beyond school and why they are essential in keeping communities safe. In this way, pupils develop respect for public institutions and services and understand how law supports a safe, respectful and harmonious society.
Individual Liberty
Within our inclusive Christian community, pupils are supported to develop strong self-esteem, confidence and independence so that, with God’s love, they grow and flourish together. Rooted in the belief that every child is uniquely created and valued, we provide a safe, secure and supportive environment where pupils are actively encouraged to make independent choices. We educate and provide clear, consistent boundaries so that pupils can exercise freedom safely through an empowering education and strong pastoral care. Pupils are taught to know, understand and exercise their rights, responsibilities and personal freedoms, alongside developing the wisdom to make positive choices. Through our curriculum, including learning such as E-safety within computing, pupils learn how to keep themselves safe physically, emotionally and online. Pupils are encouraged to show initiative, develop independence in learning and understand how their choices impact others and the community around them. Our curriculum is designed to remove barriers to learning so that every child feels seen, valued and able to flourish, reflecting our commitment to dignity, inclusion and aspiration for all.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart of our Christian vision and school culture, pupils learn that every person is valued, worthy of dignity and created with purpose. Respect is at the core of our ethos and is modelled consistently by staff and pupils alike through relationships, language and daily interactions. Our classrooms and learning environments promote respect for others, and we actively foster a culture where pupils feel safe to express different views and respectfully disagree with one another.
Mutual respect is embedded across the curriculum and wider school life. For example, through PE and games, pupils learn the importance of fairness, teamwork and ‘fair play’, understanding that respect underpins positive competition and collaboration. Our school rules are rooted in respect and are visible in all areas of school life, supporting pupils to make positive choices and build strong relationships.
Through collective worship, restorative approaches and our curriculum, pupils develop kindness, empathy, forgiveness and responsibility for others. This reflects our commitment to creating a community where everyone feels safe, valued and able to belong. In living out these values daily, pupils learn that respect strengthens communities and enables everyone to flourish together.
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs
As a Church of England school, we actively promote tolerance, understanding and harmony between different cultures, faiths and beliefs. Through RE, PSHE, collective worship and wider curriculum experiences, pupils learn about Christianity and other world faiths and world views, developing appreciation and respect for both similarities and differences. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions, engage in respectful dialogue and develop an understanding of how diversity strengthens communities. Rooted in our Christian vision of love and reconciliation, we teach pupils to value difference, challenge prejudice and contribute to a fair and inclusive society. Our curriculum prepares pupils to live well with others in modern Britain and the wider world, equipping them with wisdom, compassion and respect.
Coleshill Young Leaders
Our democratically elected Young Leaders ensure that pupil voice is central to our school community and that children are truly at the heart of school life. Through a fair voting process, pupils experience democracy in action and understand that their voice matters. Young Leaders represent the views of their peers and actively contribute to shaping school life through a wide range of leadership roles, including Worship Council, Student Council, Eco Council, Digital Leaders, Play Leaders, Reading Champions, House Captains and Sports Leaders. Through these roles, pupils develop confidence, responsibility, communication, teamwork, collaboration and decision-making skills, while learning how to organise initiatives, solve problems and represent others effectively. Young Leaders act as positive role models, influencing school culture, supporting inclusion, promoting sustainability and contributing to decision-making across the school. This reflects our commitment to empowering pupils to contribute positively to the wider life of the school and community, living out our vision that with God’s love, we grow and flourish together.
Parent feedback
During our 2014 SIAMS church school inspection, parents commented that:
“In this multicultural society the school has helped my son to understand others and respect different cultures and beliefs.”
“You have helped my son to be a better person and prepare him for his life ahead“