British Values

What are British Values ?

The government set out their definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. In 2014, the Department of Education published guidance on promoting British Values in schools to ensure young people leave school and college prepared for life in Modern Britain.

  • Democracy. uk

  • The Rule of Law.

  • Individual Liberty.

  • Mutual Respect for and Tolerance of those with different Faiths and Beliefs and for those without Faith.

    dem   rule-of-lawliberty   mrt

Below is “Find Your Way”  which provides an overview of the history of Parliament and information about elections and voting, the different political parties and the European Union.

You will learn about:

  • the history of Parliament (an overview)
  • the role of democracy and what democracy is
  • the Constitution and the EU
  • the House of Commons and the House of Lords
  • legislation and the law-making process
  • elections and voting
  • political parties
  • pressure groups and lobbying
  • how to get involved with politics and campaigning

Find Your Way

How to make a Law

This whiteboard resource (External Link) includes a short introductory quiz followed by three activities.  Click on the link above or below after you have read the brief.

  • Debate a bill in either the House of Commons or House of Lords and choose questions you would ask a minister to scrutinise the bill.
  • Sort through historic bills that have improved our voting rights, education, working hours and welfare, in the Timeline Challenge.
  • Follow the passage of a bill and find out about the role of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the monarch in From bill to law.

Three levels of difficulty allow you to tailor the activities to suit yourself.

Learning outcomes

This resource supports political literacy components of the curriculum in subjects such as Citizenship. It also supports elements of the secondary history curriculum relating to changes in voting rights and welfare, and elements of the English curriculum relating to debating.

You will learn to:

  • Understand Parliament’s legislative role and how it affects their lives
  • Identify the roles of the House of Commons, House of Lords and the monarch in passing new legislation
  • Understand the importance of debate and scrutiny before new laws are made
  • Improve their debating skills and recognise the importance of evidence
  • Recognise key dates in British history relating to improvements in education, welfare and voting rights
  • Define key terms and understand their place in the legislative process, including white papers,
    green papers, bills, laws, amendments, Royal Assent, and the King or Queen’s Speech

How to make a law – Whiteboard Resource