British Values

Promoting British Values at Outwoods Edge Primary School

At Outwoods Edge, we are fully committed to promoting the fundamental British values as defined by the Department for Education (DfE). These values are:

• Democracy

• The Rule of Law

• Individual Liberty

• Mutual Respect

• Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

The DfE states that schools should:

“actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

At Outwoods Edge, these values are actively taught and woven into regular whole school assemblies, as well as our weekly Lyfta time, which provides powerful global learning experiences. They are also an integral part of our curriculum design, underpinning our approach to personal development and social responsibility.

Democracy is embedded across school life. Through School Council elections, children vote for representatives in a process that mirrors democratic elections. 

Beyond voting, pupils are actively involved in decision-making, contributing ideas and feedback that shape school improvements, learning experiences, and school events. We teach children that their voices matter. 

Parents and pupils are invited to showcase their views about our school in termly questionnaires.

At Outwoods Edge, children are taught the importance of laws in maintaining a safe and fair society. This starts with understanding the school’s own rules, which are consistently reinforced and linked to wider values of justice and responsibility.

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws—that they govern and protect us, involve responsibilities, and have consequences when broken. This learning is supported by regular visits and assemblies from external agencies including the police, fire service, and the Warning Zone, which help bring these concepts to life and offer real-world relevance.

We maintain strong links with our local police, who come into school to educate pupils about upholding British law and understanding the role of the prosecution service. In addition, children are given opportunities to take on responsibilities within the school community, such as becoming play leaders, helping to promote fairness and reconciliation among their peers.

We also promote a robust anti-bullying culture and have a positive behaviour policy rooted in respect, tolerance, and personal accountability. Behaviour incidents are regularly reviewed and monitored, and findings are shared with key stakeholders, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement in how we uphold expectations across the school.

At Outwoods Edge, we actively promote a culture where children are encouraged to make independent choices and express themselves confidently, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure, and supportive environment.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand, and exercise their rights and personal freedoms, and are given guidance on how to do this safely and responsibly—for example, through E-Safety education, PSHE lessons, and wider pastoral support. This helps them make informed decisions both in and outside of school.

Children are supported to take responsibility for their learning, behaviour, and actions, developing confidence, resilience, and self-awareness. Through a broad range of extra-curricular clubs and enrichment opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices based on their interests, helping them to develop a sense of autonomy and ownership over their personal development.

We strive to nurture individuality while fostering a sense of social responsibility, ensuring pupils understand how to balance personal liberty with respect for the rights and freedoms of others.

Mutual respect is integral to the ethos of our school and underpins everything we do at Outwoods Edge. It is also one of our 5 key values. Respect is actively promoted through our curriculum, relationships, and school environment, and is regularly highlighted in whole school assemblies.

Children are taught to listen to others, value different perspectives, and treat everyone with kindness and dignity, regardless of differences. Our PSHE curriculum embodies the value of mutual respect through units such as Celebrating Difference, Being Me in My World, and Relationships, which help children to explore identity, empathy, and inclusion.

We also promote mutual respect through our Paired Reading Weekly Sessions, where older and younger pupils work together regularly. This fosters respect across different age groups, encouraging cooperation, role modelling, and shared learning between phases of the school.

In all areas of school life, pupils are encouraged to recognise that respectful attitudes and behaviour create a positive, inclusive environment in which everyone can thrive.

At Outwoods Edge, we are proud to be an inclusive community where tolerance, understanding, and respect for others are key to school life. We actively promote acceptance of different faiths, beliefs, and cultures through a broad and rich curriculum, helping pupils to develop empathy and global awareness.

Our Religious Education (R.E.) NATRE curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on a range of world religions and belief systems. Children explore the values, traditions, and practices of various faiths, encouraging respectful dialogue and deeper understanding.

We welcome a small number of pupils with English as an Additional Language (E.A.L.) and actively use school resources and targeted support to promote their learning and integration into our school community. This inclusive approach fosters a sense of belonging and encourages all pupils to value and celebrate difference.

Our Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) teaching further supports this aim by sharing cultural similarities and differences, helping children appreciate the richness of languages, traditions, and lifestyles from around the world.

In addition, our Lyfta programme, assemblies, and themed learning events further enhance pupils’ understanding of global cultures and encourage them to challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and become respectful citizens of the wider world.