Promoting Fundamental British Values.

In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is "right" and "wrong", all people living in England are subject to its law.

The Key Values are:

• democracy

• rule of law

• individual liberty

• mutual respect

• tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

          At West End these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class council meetings.  The council has its own budget and is able to genuinely effect change within the school.  Council members for each year group are voted in by their class.

When appropriate guest speakers are invited into school; The Mayor of West Lancashire has visited to explain her role as the Mayor and the role of council.

We also have an effective ECO council who are elected and meet regularly to make decisions that affect school policy. The school is currently working towards the Green Flag award.

Children have an annual questionnaire with which they are able to put forward their views about the school.

The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.  Everyone at West End is aware of our ‘Behaviour Expectations ’.  Pupils 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.  Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.  Our Y6 children annually visit the local magistrates’ court.

Individual Liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.  As a school we educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education.  Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our Online -Safety and PSHE lessons.  Whether it is through choice of learning challenge, how they record, participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values.  Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others.  All members of the school community treat each other with respect.  This message is reinforced in everything we do however more focussed activities take place in PSHCE, SEAL and assemblies.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
West End is situated in an area which is not greatly culturally diverse; however we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. With that in mind, we are partnering with a school in Preston to learn more about cultural diversity.  Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures; our RE and PSHE teaching also reinforces this.  The school has held "special weeks, for example: International week; Festivals week; Spanish week and these all help to promote tolerance and understanding.