At Brettenham we are dedicated to serving our community. We embrace the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom.

We follow equal opportunities guidance which ensures that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. We are committed to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal curriculum and ensure that we promote and reinforce British Values to all of our students.

The Government states that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools.  The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.

The five British Values as set out by the government definition in the 2011 Prevent Strategy are:

• Democracy

• The Rule of Law

• Individual Liberty

• Mutual Respect

• Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

At Brettenham we promote British Values through our spiritual, moral, social and cultural education and our School Core Values, which permeate through the school’s curriculum and supports the development of the ‘whole child’. We recognise that such development is most successful when those values and attitudes are promoted by all the staff and provide a model of behaviour for our pupils and challenge those who express opinions that are contrary to these values.

Democracy:

• Each new school year the pupils work collectively within their class to choose their class rules and the responsibilities associated with them.   

The rule of Law: 

• The pupils are taught the values and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when broken. The Sanctions, rule of law, set out within our Behaviour Policy are progressive in terms of the seriousness of the misdemeanour and are seen by the school community as fair and just. 

• Children are given every opportunity to learn about taking responsibility for their own actions and their role as a responsible member of the school community, local community and as a global citizen. 

Individual Liberty: 

• Giving children the skills to make the right choices for themselves, their families and the wider community underpins all that we do and to exercise their individual liberty in the right way. 

• As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education, and feeling confident in themselves to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ appropriately. 

• Safeguarding our pupils is paramount and PSHE/e-Safety lessons aim to equip pupils with the skills to make safe choices. Children are aware of the need to use the internet safely and to feel confident in telling their parents/teachers if they feel unsafe. 

Mutual Respect: 

• Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy revolves around core values such as ‘respect’, ‘responsibility,  and 'resilience'. Children have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what these mean and how they are shown. Rewards are given for positive attitudes and behaviours and there is a weekly assembly to reward consistent effort and achievement. The school ethos and aims promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom rules as well as our behaviour policy. High levels of mutual respect are obvious in the school and are demonstrated daily in the excellent relationships between staff and pupils. 

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs: 

• Brettenham Primary is a diverse school. We actively promote diversity through our day-to-day celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. The children have visited places of worship that are important to different faiths. (Members of different faiths and religions within our school family are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning.)