3. The 2014 introduction of ‘Modern British Values’
“The guidance aims to help both independent and state-maintained schools understand
their responsibilities in this area. All have a duty to ‘actively 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. These values were first set out by
the government in the ‘Prevent’ strategy in 2011. “
“Ofsted and the independent inspectorates now take the work of schools in this area
into account during inspections.”
4. How do you feel about discussing
media events with your learners?
Is there an ethical issue with world
events being discussed in school?
What influences your own views
about race and culture? Are you
free from bias?
5. The 10 question
survey
• Questions 1-5 are about the respondents.
• Questions 6-10 are based on practitioner
confidence and what is currently happening in
establishments.
• Questions were deliberately open to observe how
respondents identified themselves.
• Opportunity to offer extra information or to clarify
by written comment was available for a majority of
questions.
6. How confident do Teachers feel
facilitating discussions about sensitive
topics?
• RE and history Teachers appear to be slightly more confident than others.
Several positive responses also referred to qualifications that they felt
supported their confidence.
• Knowledge and experience of racially mixed schools appeared to support
Teacher confidence.
• Those that do not feel confident implied children’s lack of cultural
knowledge made discussions challenging.
• Discussion of race and culture in predominantly White British areas can be
perceived as taboo.
• Parental support and SLT competence at discussing race and culture appear
to be a barrier to classroom discussion for some.
7. Q9. What are schools doing to include
encourage positive open talk?
• Several responses commented on texts acting as a
medium.
• Engaging in discussion as conversations arise naturally.
• Several cited topics which appear on the curriculum.
• Open talk and modelling.
• Creation of ground rules for respectful exchanges.
Suggestion 1 (30 responses)
8. cont. What are schools doing to include
encourage positive open talk?
Suggestion 2 (28 responses)
Suggestion 3 (20 responses)
• Within the second suggestion box, many referred to
current events or the media being used as a stimulus to
elicit conversation.
• The language appeared to change tone for some
(insist/incidents)
• Within the third suggestion, 3 people referred to
encouraging discussion about learners backgrounds or
experiences.
9. Limitations
• Knowledge is underdeveloped.
• Questionnaire was shared throughout the network I could reach
and on the good will of participants filling it in for me; as a result
of this, the data is limited by the range of people I had access to,
but the findings can serve as an indicator to themes which need
to be explored further.
• Percentage data would be skewed because only 33/53
questionnaires were fully complete. However, as intended,
written responses offer insight into current practice.
• No indication of roles within education.
10. Next steps – what can we do to
build on this?
• Explore why a proportion of educators filled in the
first page but not the second.
• Interview educators in more depth and analyse
themes.
• Look at ITE student confidence and consider
whether some of the findings from teachers could
be addressed during training.
