SMSC and British Values at Lime Tree

The DfE have reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to 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.”

Promoting Fundamental British Values at Lime Tree Primary School

At Lime Tree Primary School we actively promote fundamental British values as part of our mission to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development for all our pupils at school.

Promoting Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural Development at Lime Tree Primary

Our pupils benefit from outstanding SMSC development through our strong school mission statement that underpins our Lime Tree Primary School Values.

Lime Tree Primary Mission Statement

We respect and value every individual in our school community; and will inspire, challenge and support each other to achieve success.

Our clear values support all children, staff, governors and community to develop effective relationships throughout the school, and provide the basis for our behaviour policy and PSHE curriculum. We use the School Values and the British Values to ensure everyone in school benefits from high quality SMSC development.

Lime Tree Primary School Values

Within the Lime Tree School Community and Glyn Learning Foundation we believe that school is a place 'where children grow, learn and flourish together'.

The four School Values: courage, cooperation, resilience and respomsilbity are embedded in school practice and support all learners to achieve their potential not only academically, but socially and emotionally too (see Mission and Values). Alongside the School Values the five British Values are integrated and embedded into school life. 

Lime Tree Primary and the British Values

British Values work alongside Lime Tree's Values and are a main focus for the Monday Value Assembly. We use the LTPS British Value hand to help us remember all five British Values, can you remember them?

Promoting Democracy at Lime Tree Primary

Democracy is evident throughout our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our pupil questionnaires, and via members of the school council. Our school’s Behaviour Policy enables pupils to distinguish right from wrong. In instances of wrong doing, we challenge children’s bad choices by allowing children time for reflection to accept their responsibility for their wrong doings and support them to make changes for the future. We encourage a respect for democracy by using the voting process to elect class representatives for the school council and school Eco Council. As the school grows we plan to use our pupil views to develop the school curriculum and learning environment to create a thriving school that inspires and interests all our community.

Promoting the Rule of Law at Lime Tree Primary

We explore the importance of Laws/rules, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country.  Using the appropriate pitch and language for our children, Laws/rules are reinforced, particularly during school and class assemblies, SMSC and our cornerstones curriculum. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws; that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and consequences when laws/rules are broken.

Promoting Individual Liberty at Lime Tree Primary

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe, caring and supportive environment. From our youngest pupils we encourage our children to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and SMSC lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, plan do and review, forest School activities, how they record work, selection of lunches or participation in our developing extra-curricular clubs- pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Promoting Mutual Respect at Lime Tree Primary

Part of our school mission and behaviour policy has revolved around Core Values such as ‘Cooperation’ and 'Responsiblity', and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown.

Tolerance of and respect for those of all faiths, no faith, different cultures and lifestyles

This is achieved through activities aimed at developing our young pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Class work involves discussions and activities to celebrate our diverse community of different faiths and different cultural heritage. Using age appropriate language we aim to educate our children about prejudices and prejudice-based issues by learning in about these issues in RE and SMSC. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning.