The DFE have recently 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"

At Beacon these our school values are reinforced regularly and run through everything we do:

Be the best 

Everyone achieves

Ambitious for all children 

Caring, Creative & Challenging

Opportunity for all to succeed 

Nurturing 

The Local School Committee and Staff at Beacon Primary School are committed to providing all pupils with a curriculum which provides equality of opportunity and freedom from discrimination. We are committed to overcoming sexist, racist and classist attitudes with an approach which seeks to raise consciousness and develop positive attitudes. 

At Beacon Primary we aim to be a community where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. We want everyone to reach their potential, and we recognise that for some pupils extra support is needed to help them to achieve and be successful. We take our legal duties on equality seriously. We welcome our general duty under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to foster good relations. We are required to publish equality information as well as equality objectives, which show how we plan to reduce or remove particular inequalities or disadvantages.

We welcome our general duty under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to foster good relations, and our specific duties to publish information every year about our school population; to explain how we have due regard for equality; and to publish equality objectives which show how we plan to tackle particular inequalities, and reduce or remove them. We also welcome our duty under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to promote community cohesion.

For more information please read the following policies:

• Accessibility policy and Plan
• Anti Bullying Policy
• Inclusion policy
• SEN Policy
• Equality and diversity Policy

ANTI-RACISM

It is the right of all pupils to receive the best education the school can provide, with access to all educational activities organised by the school. We do not tolerate any forms of racism or racist behaviour. Should a racist incident occur, we will act immediately to report this following the correct procedures and make necessary adjustments to prevent any repetition of the incident.

We endeavour to make our school welcoming to all minority groups. We promote an understanding of different cultures through the topics studied by the children, we reflect this in the displays of work shown around the school and in class books celebrating different days/celebrations around the world.

Every pupil, regardless of race, is expected, and encouraged, to reach their potential by all staff. The expectations are underpinned by our monitoring of the performance of ethnic minority pupils to pinpoint and tackle underperformance.

GENDER EQUALITY

We are committed to ensuring equal treatment of all our employed, pupils and visitors, regardless of gender identity, neither males, nor females, will be treated less favourably in any procedures, practices and aspects of school life.

At Beacon Primary school, we will not tolerate harassment of people based on their gender identity or transgender status. We will endeavour to use and display images which show positive images relating to gender.

Staff at school will challenge gender stereotyping and promote positive role models. Social relationships between boys and girls will be developed and encouraged so that there is a mutual respect and understanding between both genders. The dignity and privacy of transgender people will be protected by our procedures and practices.

DISABILITY EQUALITY

We are committed to ensuring equal treatment of all its staff, pupils and visitors, with any form of disability and will ensure that disabled people are not treated less favourably in any procedures, practices and aspects of school life.

The definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 states a person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term (a year or more) adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

A physical or mental impairment includes:-

• Learning difficulties
• Mental health conditions
• Medical conditions
• Hidden impairments such as autism or speech and language difficulties.

Please refer to our schools Equality policy for more information.

• School Council

British Values

At Beacon Primary school these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways. We keep an up to date audit of all such teaching and learning opportunities.

Democracy

Democracy is richly embedded within the school. Pupils have many opportunities to have their voices heard through our School Council, see below for a link to our school council page. Every year we hold a 'General Election' when the children get the opportunity to vote for their School Mayor and Mayoress. During this process all candidates take part in a whole school assembly and give a presentation on their vision for Beacon. All children and staff then get the chance to vote for their preferred candidate in the ballot.

Pupils are listened to and are taught to listen carefully to others. They are taught to respect the right of individuals to have their voices and opinions heard and are taught to discuss issues in a calm and balanced way.

The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school or the country are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days at Beacon. Each class devises their own class rules that they all agree to abide by in the class; these rules run alongside the basic expectations that we have for all pupils when at Beacon. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the police and fire service are a regular part of our school calendar and we often have assemblies run by these key services and help to reinforce this message.  During all events hosted at Beacon, we invite the emergency services to support so that they can have a visual presence and form the community links that are vital to society. 

Individual Liberty

Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs.  Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our children to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and planned curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our assemblies, or themed PSHE days curriculum and e-Safety teaching. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. attending extra-curricular activities and supporting fundraising through our enrichment activities.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the core of our school life. All pupils and staff are expected to treat each other with respect.  Pupils learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. We promote good manners to all children and encourage children to engage in conversations with everyone. 

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs.

Beacon Primary School is situated in an area which is not greatly culturally diverse therefore we place great empahsis on promoting diversity with the children. Assemblies will be regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures.

At Beacon we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. We strongly believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. We ensure that through our focused PSHE days our children get the chance to understand different cultures and how we live in a multicultural society.  Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgeable and gain an understanding of citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.

The Curriculum

The curriculum is regularly reviewed to ensure that it promotes the areas above. It also ensures that pupils are taught about key events and figures in history. Events during the year celebrate culturally diverse occasions and memorable events taking place in the country.

At Beacon Primary School. we will actively challenge children, staff or parents who express opinions that are contrary to fundamental British values including extremists views.