British Values
We teach children to celebrate and respect our differences while recognising and cherishing the values, experiences and qualities we share.
We actively promote common values that support young people to 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.
We encourage children to develop a global perspective and to appreciate that these values are not just British values, but are shared by many countries and people around the world.
The British Values we promote are:
- democracy
- rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect
- tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
These values are woven throughout our curriculum and wider school life. They are promoted not only through classroom learning, but also through assemblies, special events and activities designed to celebrate and reinforce their importance. These include Anti-Bullying Week, UK Parliament Week, our Pupil Leaders, as well as our participation in significant occasions such as Remembrance, the Coronation, festivals and other celebrations.
Curriculum
Our curriculum prepares children for life in British Society; this includes developing the understanding and use of money, effective reading and writing skills, collaboration and discussion to research ideas and concepts. Curriculum themes include historical and geographical study in the context of the United Kingdom, as well as national and international comparisons. Topic examples: World War II, the Great Fire of London as well as Ancient Greece and the origins of Democracy.
Collective Worship
Our assemblies promote our core values of Respect, Aspiration, Joy, Kindness, Resilience and Creativity, while reinforcing the fundamental British Values. Each term, we focus on one value and celebrate children who demonstrate it through our values awards. Visitors, including local clergy, the Open the Book team and members of the wider community, help pupils develop respect, responsibility and an understanding of their role within the wider community. We also celebrate children’s achievements each week, both in and out of school, fostering confidence, belonging and pride in their successes.
PSHE & RE
Respect is one of our core Christian values and is central to promoting mutual respect and tolerance. It is taught through our PSHE (Jigsaw) and RE curriculums and reinforced throughout everyday school life. Pupils are encouraged to understand their rights and responsibilities, make safe and informed choices, as well as respect the rights and beliefs of others.
Through our RE curriculum, children develop an understanding of different faiths, beliefs and cultures, helping them to appreciate the diversity of modern Britain. It is largely based on the Understanding Christianity resource and the Somerset AMV syllabus. We enrich learning through visits to local places of worship, opportunities to explore religious festivals and discussions that encourage children to share and learn about different beliefs with respect and openness.
British Values in PSHE Lessons (Jigsaw)
PE
Our PE curriculum and extra-curricular sporting opportunities promote mutual respect, individual liberty and the rule of law. Through sport, pupils learn the importance of fair play, following rules, showing respect for others, working cooperatively as part of a team, celebrating success with humility and accepting defeat with resilience. We encourage every child to participate, fostering inclusion, perseverance and a sense of belonging within our school community.
Pupil Leaders
St Julian’s Church School actively promotes democracy through our pupil leadership teams. Pupils are given opportunities to share their views, represent their peers and contribute to decision-making, helping them to understand that their voice matters and that positive change can be achieved through democratic processes. Through our curriculum and assemblies, particularly within our core value of Aspiration, children also learn about local and national democracy, developing an understanding of how they can play an active role in their community and wider society.
Local and National Events:
Throughout the year, we celebrate and mark a range of national, cultural and religious events that help children develop an understanding of life in modern Britain and the wider world. In recent years, these have included the Coronation of King Charles III, Remembrance Day and UK Parliament Week, with special assemblies, themed lessons and activities that deepen pupils’ understanding of democracy, respect and active citizenship.
We work closely with our school community to promote mutual respect, tolerance and understanding. Throughout the year, children take part in a range of celebrations and events that reflect both our Christian foundation and the diversity of modern Britain. These include Harvest Festival, our Nativity and Christmas carol celebrations, as well as learning about and celebrating festivals such as Diwali and Chinese New Year.
We value the experiences and perspectives of our families and welcome opportunities for parents and members of the community to share their faiths, traditions and cultures. By learning about different beliefs and customs, children develop an appreciation of diversity while recognising the values we all share, including kindness, respect and compassion.
