British Values at Mereside

 

Mereside Primary Academy is a real community school which serves an area of significant high deprivation. 74.9% of our pupils live in the bottom most deprived areas nationally. (Deprivation Report - IMD 2024). The Mereside staff team are passionate and knowledgeable about the community and our children and families. We really want to make a difference. 

Our school mission statement which focuses on ensuring all our pupils learn together and achieve together in order to prepare themselves for a successful future, therefore raising ambition ever further.

Our whole-school curriculum is intentionally designed to provide all pupils with regular, meaningful opportunities to explore and develop their understanding of British values. These values are embedded across all aspects of school life, through both explicit teaching and the wider curriculum offer and are closely aligned with our school values: Be Kind, Be Ready.

 

Democracy

Pupils’ understanding of democracy is fostered through a range of planned experiences and curriculum content including:

  • Our core value Be Kind teaches pupils to respect others' views and express their own opinions appropriately and confidently.
  • The concept of democracy is explicitly taught in our PSHE curriculum through designated units.
  • Fundamental democratic principles such as freedom of speech and access to information are explored through:
     
    • Literacy texts that present a range of viewpoints and characters with differing opinions.
    • Oracy-focused learning, where pupils are encouraged to participate in discussions and debates at an age-appropriate level.
    • Emphasis on respectful dialogue, guided by The Mereside Way and our behaviour and relationships policy.
       

In addition, assemblies, educational visits, and external visitors (including local leaders and professionals) provide pupils with first-hand insight into democratic life and diverse perspectives.

The Rule of Law

Understanding the rule of law is a key aspect of our curriculum and school culture:

  • Our Behaviour Policy is rooted in our values and clearly teaches pupils the importance of rules in maintaining a safe and respectful community.
  • Expectations for behaviour and rule-following are consistently reinforced through direct teaching, positive reinforcement and tailored interventions where needed.
  • PSHE lessons include specific units on the laws of our country, supporting pupils to understand their rights and responsibilities as future citizens.

Recognising our school’s context and the challenges some pupils may face outside school, we work in partnership with PCSOs, school nurses and other professionals to reinforce the value of the rule of law in making safe, positive life choices. This work is critical to safeguarding and aligns with our broader curriculum intent.

Individual Liberty

We actively promote individual liberty by helping pupils to make informed choices within a safe and supportive environment:

  • Our value Be Ready encourages pupils to make independent decisions while being respectful of others’ rights and views. This is evident through pupil voice, behaviour records and classroom practices.
  • From Early Years to Year 6, pupils are given frequent opportunities to exercise choice—whether in continuous provision, job roles, or selecting tasks and responsibilities across the curriculum.
  • Individual liberty is explicitly taught through SRE and E-Safety, including lessons on consent, privacy and personal boundaries.
  • Our careers education and themed assemblies expose pupils to a broad range of future pathways, promoting aspiration and informed decision-making.
     

Where pupils find aspects of individual liberty difficult to navigate, targeted support is provided. Our knowledge of our pupils and community informs ongoing partnership work with external agencies such as the police or social care to address local issues, ensuring pupils are equipped to make safe and positive choices.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs

We promote mutual respect and tolerance through direct teaching and wider curriculum planning:

  • Be Kind underpins all relationships in school, encouraging pupils to value and respect others regardless of faith, belief, or background.
  • Our RE curriculum introduces pupils to major world religions including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, fostering understanding and appreciation of diverse beliefs.
  • Carefully chosen literacy texts feature characters and stories from a range of cultural and religious contexts, enabling discussion and empathy.
  • History lessons explore key events and movements that highlight the importance of tolerance and acceptance (e.g. World War II, Civil Rights).
    Subjects such as Art and Music celebrate global cultures and artistic traditions, giving pupils a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity.

Given the context of our local community, where pupils may encounter intolerant views outside school, we proactively address these challenges through curriculum content, the Unstoppables programme, and work with external partners to reinforce positive messages of respect and inclusion.