Telephone: 01234 745200 Email: rivertree@biltt.org
Rivertree Free School is part of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
Company Number: 08156641
British Values
At Rivertree Free School we value the diversity and backgrounds of all pupils, families and the wider school 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.”
The Department for Education defines British Values as follows:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Our school reflects British Values in all that we do.
We encourage our pupils to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world.
At Rivertree, we actively promote British Values in the following ways:
Democracy
- Pupil Voice is addressed through Pupil Parliament, questionnaires and through our Right Respecting charters.
- Our School Development Plan includes a Pupil Voice Plan aimed at suggestions made by pupils.
- Informal voting on issues within form times and lessons.
- We hold democratic pupil parliament elections and voting.
- Pupils attend their person centred EHCP review meeting and their opinions are shared in the most appropriate and meaningful way.
- There is explicit consideration of democracy within RSHE lessons. Curriculum areas lend themselves to thoughtful discussion.
- The principles of democracy are explored in the whole curriculum e.g. turn taking, sharing and collaboration, as well as during assemblies and special projects.
Our School Parliament is very well established and has an annual budget to spend on school improvement priorities.
Our class representatives have been instrumental in the following:
- Improving outdoor play and sports facilities for break and lunchtimes.
- Helping design learning spaces such as the school library.
- Collaborating on school awards such as wellbeing, Food For Life, Artsmark and Unicef Rights Respecting.
- Promoting a school environment where questions are valued and encouraged – ‘You say, We did.
Rule of Law
The school’s ethos promotes and encourages respect and helps pupils to distinguish right from wrong.
Our Behaviour and Anti-Bullying policy sets out a zero tolerance baseline for any form of aggression, abuse or violence, which extends to pupils, staff, parents and carers.
We raise awareness of bullying by being part of the National Anti-Bullying Week and Internet Safety Day.
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.
Through lessons, 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.
Occasional visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty
We pride ourselves on a school culture and ethos that builds respect, tolerance and resilience.
Both in and out of lessons pupils are actively encouraged to make the right choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our Online Safety and RSHE lessons. We have a robust anti-bullying culture.
Our school environment is one that promotes independence and individual communication. Our aim is to work towards pupils having full independence.
Staff work to promote pupils’ self-esteem and a positive sense of self throughout the school day and in the wider community.
Our pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and are supported to learn to make safe choices that enable them to grow as individuals and reach their own potential in all aspects of their learning. Restorative sessions are promoted.
As pupils move up through the school they are supported to understand their rights and personal freedoms and are given appropriate advice to enable them to make independent decisions.
Vulnerable pupils are supported to make appropriate decisions and staff ensure that adults supporting them are doing so with the pupils’ best interests.
We conduct regular pupil and parent surveys and use the results to inform the coming year’s school development plan.
Mutual Respect
Respect is one of the core values of our school.
Our pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone. School assemblies address what respect means and how it is shown.
Displays around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, newsletters, as well as our Behaviour Policy.
Both in and out of the classroom pupils are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other opinions, cultures and ways of life.
Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour. All such incidents are recorded and dealt with accordingly.
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Discussions about prejudices and prejudice-based bullying in lessons, RSHE and other curriculum areas are embedded throughout the school.
We also:
- Recognise and discuss religious celebrations in lessons, form times and assemblies.
- Promote an understanding of a variety of cultures and faiths through bespoke timetabled days, such as Diwali, Ramadan, Chinese New Year, Hannukah and Christmas.
- Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school e.g. a discussion of fasting during Ramadan.
- Through the PSE and RE curriculum pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences in family situations.
- Links and visits are promoted with local faith communities and places of worship e.g. in RE pupils visit the Gurdawara, Mosques and local churches.
Every school is required to have a designated safeguarding lead or (DSL). At Rivertree this role is undertaken by Katie Davis (Designated Safeguarding Lead/Deputy Head) and Clare Breare (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead/Headteacher).