British Values

As Part of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Education 

Although advice on British values from the Department for Education is non-statutory, the school has obligations under section 78 of the Education Act (2002), as part of a broad and balanced curriculum, to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of our pupils at school and in society as a whole.

There are a number of key values that we have always sought to promote. These are:

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual respect
  • Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

This policy makes clear that Lakeside will promote its pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development. By ensuring our pupils’ SMSC development, we will be demonstrating our commitment to actively promoting fundamental British values.

We will enable our pupils to 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 will not teach anything that undermines English civil and criminal law and our pupils will be made aware of the difference between the law of our land and religious law.

Through our provision of SMSC, Lakeside will:

  • enable our pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
  • enable our pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the law; encourage our pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, develop tolerance and harmony between our country’s different cultural traditions by enabling our pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
  • encourage respect for other people and,
  • encourage respect for democracy.

We will develop our pupils’ understanding and knowledge so that they have:

  • an understanding of the democratic process;
  • an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety;
  • an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
  • an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour; and
  • an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.

Lakeside Primary School recognises the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom.

We seek to ensure that there is no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar.

Lakeside Primary School strives to provide its pupils with a foundation of values upon which to build a successful life and make a positive contribution to our Society.