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British Values Statement

British Values

The Department for Education introduced a statutory duty for schools to promote British values more actively from September 2014, and to ensure they are taught in schools. British values include:
  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Equality of opportunity
  • Freedom of speech
  • Individual liberty and mutual respect
  • Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

At Cottenham Primary School we take our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain very seriously. We value the ethnic backgrounds of all pupils and families and undertake a variety of events and lessons to celebrate and explore these alongside other cultures in our country.

We ensure that the fundamental British values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. Our curriculum provides excellent opportunities to deepen and strengthen understanding developing the spiritual, moral, social and cultural education of our children.

All children are involved in developing their own class rules and expectations of being good learners, based on the school’s aims and values. Whole school assemblies introduce themes to focus all children on understanding and embracing our values and aims. This developing values-based understanding from the minute they start school, provides children with the platform for embracing difference and striving for their own goals.

At Cottenham, we value the voice of the child and promote democratic processes such as our School Council, whose members are elected by their peers. Ideas and events are planned and discussed with a chance for debate and putting forward points of view.

Children are given responsibility to run House assemblies and lead other children in celebrating achievements or running activities so that they are fully involved in all aspects of school life. Some of our older children are Junior Librarians and Corridor Monitors: helping to promote our core values and high expectations of behaviour.

Our duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism through adherence to 'The Prevent Strategy' ensures that any dissent or opposition to these fundamental British Values is not tolerated at Cottenham Primary School.