British Values
British Values and Christian Values
The requirement for schools to prepare pupils for modern life with a focus on British values is relatively new, but Church schools
have long been familiar with the need to articulate their fundamental Christian values. Both sets of values overlap and one can
clearly argue that the government’s stated British values have emerged from Britain’s long history as a Christian nation.
The key Christian beliefs that underpin both Christian Values and British values are that:
- God is a God of order, and that his world should reflect a sense of purpose, not chaos
- Every person is made in the image of God, known, loved and valued as a unique creation.
- Humans are designed to be interdependent, supporting others and being supported, like a body with many parts.
- The Bible provides laws to govern human affairs, but these also show up human weakness and the need for forgiveness
- The greatest command is to LOVE – God, oneself, one’s neighbour, and even one’s enemy – and, for a Christian, to love as Christ loved us.
In our Church of England British values should cause us to ask: |
Teaching about British Values relates to our growing understanding of Christian Values such as: |
Remembering what Chris tians believe, and putting it into practice, helps us understand British values better… |
Here are some examples of things in school which help develop understanding of British Values. What would you ‘lose’ or ‘add’? What specifically Christian things could be included? |
Democracy How do we give everyone an equal right to be heard and a shared responsibility to play a positive part in our school community? |
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Humans are inter-dependent and everyone has a role to play. For Christians, our role is to be part of a body, working together and governed by Christ, the head of the ‘body’. |
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The Rule of Law How do we help all members of the school community understand the idea that the right rules permit well-being, safety and harmony? |
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Christians respect the Ten Commandments, and other laws in the Bible, which model right ways to live. They know rules are hard to keep and that they reveal a human propensity to sin or shortcomings. They speak of God’s mercy and forgiveness but know they should not use this as an excuse to break laws. |
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Individual Liberty How do we enable every individual in our school community to act on the belief that they have dignity and freedom as a unique and valued individual? |
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The Bible portrays humans as individuals free to make their own choices about life and be haviour; this includes the ability to choose to do wrong. Humans are not robots but made in the ‘image of God’, able to make decisions, to choose to love and do right; this freedom brings risks and responsibilities. |
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Mutual Respect How do we reward the ability to see the good in others and the use of positive words, attitudes and actions which build up all in our school community? |
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Jesus said the two great commands were to love God and love your neighbour as you love yourself. It is important to understand our own value as those created and loved by God; and then to realise that others are also created in God’s image and valued by him. We should strive to see not just the best in others but to see ‘God’ in others. We should love one another as Christ has loved us. St Paul encourages Christians in his letters to use our words and actions to build others up, not pull them down or apart. |
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Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs How do we actively celebrate diversity in our school community, modelling tolerance, and the ability to listen with respect and to disagree without rancour? |
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Bible teaches that we are all unique creations loved by God. It follows that because we are unique, we are not all alike and have to learn to live with difference. Everyone has a right to dignity and respect as a human being but that does not mean that all ideas are equally right or good. |
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Christians should speak up for what is right and not tolerate in justice. Where people differ in culture, there is room for joy in diversity. Where there is difference in belief and faith, there is always room for love and respect even if agreement is not possible. |
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Some additional questions to consider
How explicit are Christian values in the life of the school?
Are you certain that visitors to your classrooms and collective worship leaders uphold your school values in their words and interactions?
Are opportunities taken in all subjects and every aspect of school life for pupils to embrace the school values?
Does teaching allow pupils to develop the skills that equip them to challenge when the school values are not upheld?
And finally remember Christianity can also be counter‐cultural e.g. expressing disquiet with the materialism and moral culture of Britain / being a worldwide faith with an international perspective / challenging action in the name of love and justice (but not with violence) to make the community better. So perhaps in our schools we can also encourage a dialogue in our staffrooms and in relating to pupils, parents and others, just as in the New Testament the Early Church modelled some of those ideas that are important for democracy ‐ shared living, discussion, debate and dialogue.
The Bible and British Values
Bible passages and stories link to the British value headings and are used in lessons and collective worship.
Democracy
- “See I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction now choose life that you and your children may live.” Deuteronomy 30 v15‐19
- Calling the disciples Matthew 4 v18‐21
- The quarrel about who should sit at Jesus right and left hand in heaven Matthew 20 v20‐23
Rule of Law
- “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” Romans 13 v1
- Jesus teaches about the law Matthew 5 v17‐20
- Paying taxes to Caesar Luke 20 v21‐25
- Be “in” the world not “of” the world Isaiah 2,3,11
- The wisdom of Solomon 1 Kings 3 v16‐28
- Zacchaeus Luke 9 v1‐10
- Moses and the Ten Commandments Exodus 20 v1‐20
- Jesus’ new commandment John 13 v 34
Individual liberty
- Christ has set us free Galatians 5 v 1
- The truth sets us free John 8 v 32
- Adam and Eve-free to do wrong Genesis 2,3
- Ten Lepers freed from the constraints of their illness Luke 17 v 11‐19
- Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane debating duty Matthew 26 v 36‐46
- The rich young man imprisoned by his own riches Matthew 19 v 16‐22
- The two builders and choosing your lifestyle Matthew 7 v 24-27
- Zacchaeus Luke 19 v1‐10
Mutual respect
- Be devoted to one another, love one another above yourselves Romans 12 v 10
- We are made in the image of God Genesis 1vs 27
- Good Samaritan freely helps his enemy Luke 10 v 29‐37
- Creation is good Genesis1
- The soldier’ s unexpected faith in a “subject” teacher Luke 7 v 1‐10
- Mary and Martha, the importance of listening to others Luke 10 38‐41
- Jesus washed the disciples feet like the lowliest servant John 3 v 1‐20
- Story of Ruth, respect for relatives and for the poor Ruth 1‐4
Tolerance of different cultures and religions
- Do not judge others and you will not be judged Matthew 7 v 1
- Naaman learns respect for other nations 2 Kings 5
- Good Samaritan Luke 10 v 29‐37
- Jesus and the children his disciples tried to push away Matthew 19 v 13‐15
- The woman at the well, despised by her village yet Jesus gets into a theological debate with her John 4 v 1‐26