At Fonthill Primary Academy, British Values are central to who we are as a school community. They are not taught in isolation, but are woven throughout daily school life and brought to life through our mission: Belong, Believe, Explore, Achieve. 

Our vision is to develop confident, reflective and responsible citizens who are ready to contribute positively to the world around them. Through our curriculum and wider opportunities, pupils develop a strong understanding of the fundamental British Values: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance.

Rooted in our Personal Development Curriculum

British Values are embedded within our personal development curriculum, which supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural growth. This curriculum is underpinned by our mission values and ensures that children not only understand these concepts, but live them through their everyday actions.

Children learn to:

• understand their rights and responsibilities
• make positive choices and take accountability for their actions
• respect differences and celebrate diversity
• develop strong relationships and contribute to their community

Becoming Good Citizens

At the heart of our approach is the belief that British Values are about being a good citizen. We actively teach pupils what this looks like in practice—both within school and beyond.

Children are supported to:

• contribute positively to their school and local community
• show kindness, respect and empathy towards others
• understand fairness, rules and responsibility
• use their voice to influence change and stand up for what is right

Opportunities such as School Council, pupil leadership roles and community events help bring these values to life, enabling pupils to experience democracy and responsibility in meaningful ways.

Powering Values Through OPAL and Our Learning Gems

Our commitment to British Values is further strengthened through our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) approach and our learning gems.

• Through OPAL playtimes, pupils practise cooperation, fairness and respect in real-life situations—sharing resources, resolving conflict and including others.
• Our learning gems (including our “Power Gem”) explicitly teach and celebrate the behaviours that underpin British Values, such as responsibility, resilience, kindness and teamwork.
• Daily reflection and recognition ensure that these behaviours are noticed, valued and embedded across the school day. 

Living our Mission: Belong, Believe, Explore, Achieve

British Values are closely linked to our mission and are made meaningful through children’s daily experiences:

• Belong – pupils feel part of a community and learn to be respectful, responsible citizens
• Believe – pupils reflect on their values, understand their rights and develop a strong moral compass
• Explore – pupils engage with a broad range of cultures, ideas and perspectives
• Achieve – pupils develop the confidence and ambition to make a positive impact in the wider world 

British Values in Everyday School Life

We promote British Values through:

• assemblies and reflection time
• our curriculum, including PSHE, RE and enrichment experiences
• a rich events calendar celebrating diversity and community
• pupil leadership opportunities
• daily interactions where kindness, respect and inclusion are modelled

Through this carefully planned approach, we empower all pupils to become thoughtful, respectful and active citizens, ready to thrive in modern Britain.