British Values

At Meon Way Federation, we recognise that the personal development of children plays a significant role in their ability to learn, achieve and be happy individuals. We therefore aim to provide an education that provides children with opportunities to explore and develop:

  • Their own values and beliefs;
  • Their own spiritual awareness;
  • Their own high standards of personal behaviour;
  • Their critical thinking skills
  • A positive, caring and respectful attitude towards other people;
  • An understanding of their social and cultural traditions;
  • An appreciation of the diversity and richness of their cultures.

Democracy

Democracy is central to how we operate at Meon Way Federation. Children, parents and staff have many opportunities
for their voices to be heard.

  • The election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: candidates make speeches, the children consider characteristics important for an elected representative, have a secret ballot, etc. Made up of two representatives from each class, the School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes. The council has its own budget and is able to genuinely effect change within the school; recently, the School Council has chosen books for the school library and interviewed prospective new headteachers.
  • We have a house system where each house is led by house captains who are elected by the children and lead and motivate their respective houses.
  • At the beginning of each year, the children agree their Class Charter and the rights associated with these. All children contribute to the drawing up of the charter.
  • The children are consulted on how we can move the school forward, either via the School Council or via feedback sheets such as how we can improve our homework system.
  • In our creative curriculum, e.g. Year 4 study democracy during their Ancient Greece topic, in our Citizenship lessons, Year 6 study World War 2.
  • Assemblies – House assemblies, School Council assemblies.
  • During school trips, e.g. Marwell (Year 6) and Stubbington (Year 5) in which teamwork is a focus.

The children are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard.

Rule of law

The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices. At the start of the school year, each class discusses and sets its own Class Charter, a set of principles that are clearly understood by all to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and happy environment.

Children are taught the value and reasons behind the laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves, and the consequences when laws are broken. These values are reinforced in different ways:

  • Visits from authorities such as the police and Fire Service.
  • During Religious Education, when rules for particular faiths are considered.
  • During other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different laws and rules, e.g. in Citizenship and in PE, where there is the promotion of the concept of “fair play”, following and developing rules, celebrating and rewarding success, accepting defeat and participating in activities that promote cooperation with others and inclusion for all. Year 4 study the ancient and modern Olympics during their Ancient Greece topic.

Individual liberty

  1. Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Our children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our e-safety and SEAL lessons.
  2. Choices about learning challenges or activities.
  3. Choices about how they record their learning.
  4. Choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities (we have a large number of after school clubs).
  5. Assemblies – New Year’s Resolutions, Reading for Enjoyment (favourite books), E-Safety Assembly (Tracy Baldwin PCC E-Safety Officer), Independence assembly.
  6. E-safety lessons (all year groups), PSHE and Citizenship lessons (all year groups), sex and relationships (years 5 & 6), drug education (all year groups).
  7. Our ‘Healthy Living Week’, in which the children experienced a whole week of healthy activities and workshops (sport, healthy eating, road safety, etc) and how to make healthy choices.

We encourage the children to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. For example, a recent focus on independence and making your own choices in your learning.

Mutual Respect

Through our school’s values, PSHE curriculum and circle time pupils are taught to respect each other, to be cooperative and collaborative, to be supportive to one another and to look for similarities and but also value and respect differences between each other. Our school assemblies explore ideas, stories and celebrations from a range of cultures and backgrounds. All adults model respectful behaviour at all times.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

We teach the children to value and celebrate diversity rather than merely tolerate it. This is reflected in our RE, PSHE and Inclusion and Equality policies. An understanding of different faiths and beliefs is promoted through our Religious Education curriculum and children learn about different religions, their beliefs, places of worship and festivals. In addition in whole school assemblies significant religious and cultural festivals such as Ramadan, Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year are celebrated and learnt about throughout the year. We are fortunate to have pupils from a variety of countries and religions. We are proud of how this makes our school such a rich and diverse community and aim to celebrate this whenever possible in school. For example, In Year 1 when traditional tales were being studies, pupils from Spain, China and Japan discussed and told some of their national traditional tales, which lead on to a more thorough understanding of what a traditional tale is.

An understanding of and respect for different cultures is also promoted through the celebration of European Day of languages, where pupils learn more about the language, food and heritage of different countries, and Arts Week, where pupils learn about traditional dances and art works from a variety of countries.