British Values

Democracy is an integral part of life at Malmesbury Park Primary School. Both pupil and parent/carer voice play an important role in shaping our school and informing our priorities for improvement. We actively encourage children to share their views, ideas and opinions and ensure they feel listened to and valued.

Each September, pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 are elected by their peers, through a secret ballot, to represent their class as school councillors. The successful candidates are announced in assembly, and pupils show great enthusiasm for the process and respect for the outcome. The School Council meets regularly, with representatives sharing ideas from their meetings with their classes and gathering further views to bring back for discussion.

These election processes reflect the British electoral system and provide children with a clear understanding of democracy in action. Pupils may also have visits from local councillors and MPs to deepen their knowledge of democracy in action.

Every child also contributes to creating a class agreement, which sets clear expectations for behaviour and helps establish a positive, respectful learning environment. Governors regularly talk with pupils to gather their views, ensuring that school self-evaluation is robust, accurate and effective in helping Malmesbury Park continue to be the very best it can be.

At Malmesbury Park Primary School, children are taught to understand the importance of laws and rules, recognising that they exist to keep everyone safe and to protect individual rights. Pupils learn about the responsibilities that come with these laws and the consequences that may follow when they are broken.

Children are also taught that the freedom to hold different faiths and beliefs is protected in law and should be respected by all. Through assemblies and class discussions, pupils are supported in recognising the difference between right and wrong and understanding how their choices impact on themselves and others.

All children are expected to follow the school’s rules on a daily basis, in line with our Behaviour Policy and agreed school expectations. These rules also apply when pupils represent the school at sporting events, workshops and visits beyond the school environment.

At the beginning of each school year, classes create a charter which they adhere to. Any consequences are applied consistently and fairly in line with school policy and help children to understand accountability and reinforce the importance of positive behaviour.

Within school, children are actively encouraged to make choices and decisions, confident that they are doing so in a safe and supportive environment. Pupils are taught to understand their personal freedoms and how to use these rights responsibly, helping them to make informed and safe choices, particularly through online safety education and PSHE lessons.

Through classroom challenges, participation in extra-curricular clubs and involvement in a wide range of leadership and responsibility roles, children are given meaningful opportunities to exercise choice and independence. Some of these roles include Kindness Ambassadors, Prefects, Peer Mediators and Art Ambassadors, as well as membership of various school committees. All roles require an application from the student which helps develop their critical thinking skills.

By taking on these responsibilities, pupils develop confidence, resilience and a strong sense of accountability, learning how individual liberty works alongside respect for others within our school community.

Children are taught to understand that their behaviour has an impact on their own rights and the rights of others. All members of the school community are expected to treat one another with respect, care and kindness at all times.

These expectations are rooted in our core values of kindness, respect and resilience, which underpin daily life at Malmesbury Park. Through lessons, assemblies and everyday interactions, pupils learn to value differences, show empathy and work positively with others, helping to create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

We are a diverse school and actively promote and celebrate this through our recognition of different faiths, cultures and traditions. Through Religious Education, PSHE lessons and assemblies, pupils learn the importance of tolerance, understanding and respect for others.

Where appropriate, children have opportunities to visit places of worship that are significant to different faiths, helping to deepen their understanding of beliefs and practices. During their time at Malmesbury Park, pupils learn about a range of world faiths, including Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, developing knowledge, empathy and respect for diversity within our local and wider community.

Malmesbury Park Primary School actively challenges any views or opinions expressed by children, staff or parents that are contrary to fundamental British Values, including those that could be considered extremist. We are committed to promoting a safe, inclusive environment where mutual respect and understanding are central to school life.