At Longlands Primary School, we are committed to preparing our pupils to become thoughtful, respectful and active members of society. We promote the fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values are woven into our curriculum, our ethos and our everyday interactions across the school.
The Department for Education expects all schools to actively promote these values as part of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. At Longlands, we do this through high-quality teaching, assemblies, enrichment activities and strong relationships with families and the wider community.
Democracy
We believe every voice matters. Pupils, staff and parents are regularly invited to share their views and help shape school life.
- Each class elects representatives to our School Council through a democratic vote. These pupils lead discussions, organise events and bring ideas from their classmates to council meetings.
- Pupils take on leadership roles such as house captains, sports leaders and playground buddies, many of which are voted for by their peers.
- We regularly gather pupil and parent feedback through surveys and questionnaires, helping us improve and respond to the needs of our community.
- Our curriculum encourages debate, critical thinking and respectful discussion, helping children understand how democracy works in the UK and why it matters.
The Rule of Law
Understanding rules and laws is a key part of helping children feel safe and supported.
- Our five school rules are visible throughout the school and form the foundation of our behaviour policy.
- Pupils learn about the importance of laws through PSHE, assemblies and stories that explore fairness, justice and consequences.
- Visits from the police, fire service and other professionals help children understand the role of public services and the responsibilities they carry.
- Protective Behaviours are taught to help children recognise when they feel safe and how to seek help when they do not.
Individual Liberty
We encourage all pupils to make choices and express themselves confidently, knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment. We help children understand their rights and responsibilities, and we provide the guidance they need to make positive decisions.
We promote individual liberty through:
- Protective Behaviours: Pupils are taught that they have the right to feel safe and that there is nothing too difficult or upsetting that they cannot talk about with a trusted adult.
- Nurture and support: Children have access to a nurture group and are supported by familiar adults who help them feel heard and valued.
- E-Safety and PSHE: Lessons help pupils understand how to make safe choices online and in everyday life, while recognising and respecting the rights of others.
- Celebrating differences: Pupils are valued for their individuality. We offer a wide range of extra-curricular clubs that allow children to explore new interests, develop skills and build confidence.
- Equal opportunities: We ensure all pupils have access to activities, including sports teams for both boys and girls, so that everyone can participate and thrive.
- Leadership and responsibility: Pupils are encouraged to take on roles such as playground helpers, lunchtime monitors and reading buddies. These opportunities help children develop independence and a sense of responsibility.
Mutual Respect
Respect is a core value at Longlands and is reflected in how pupils interact with one another, with staff and with the wider community. We teach and model respectful behaviour every day, helping children understand the importance of empathy, kindness and listening to others.
We promote mutual respect through:
- Class charters: Each class creates a charter at the start of the year to set clear expectations for respectful behaviour.
- PSHE and assemblies: Pupils explore themes such as empathy, kindness and valuing differences through regular lessons and whole-school assemblies.
- Restorative Practice: Our behaviour policy supports reflection and repair, helping pupils understand the impact of their actions and rebuild relationships.
- Celebration assemblies: Weekly assemblies recognise pupils’ strengths and contributions, helping every child feel valued.
- Cross-Year collaboration: Pupils work together across year groups through activities like paired reading and shared projects.
- Annual events: Anti-Bullying Week, E-Safety Day and wellbeing workshops help children understand how to build positive relationships and value differences.
- Sportsmanship and teamwork: Through our partnership with the WDPSSA, pupils take part in county and local sports events. These experiences help children develop sportsmanship, teamwork and respect for others beyond our school community.
- Inclusive opportunities: All pupils are encouraged to participate in activities that promote cooperation, leadership and mutual support.
By embedding mutual respect into every aspect of school life, we help children grow into thoughtful, confident and compassionate individuals.
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs
We celebrate the diversity of our school community and encourage children to learn about and respect different cultures and beliefs.
- Our RE curriculum, based on the Discovery Scheme, introduces pupils to a wide range of world religions.
- Assemblies and celebrations mark key religious and cultural events throughout the year.
- We work closely with our local church and other community groups to enrich pupils’ understanding of faith and belief.
- Classroom resources are regularly reviewed to reflect our multicultural society and challenge stereotypes.
Promoting British Values is not a one-off lesson; it is part of our everyday practice.
Through our curriculum, our relationships and our shared values, we help children understand their role in society and prepare them to contribute positively to the world around them.
- British values at Longlands – pupils (337.44KB)
- British values at Longlands – parents (426.46KB)