There are five fundamental British Values: Democracy The Rule of Law Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales. There are five fundamental British Values: Democracy The Rule of Law Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. Individual Liberty Mutual Respect Everybody who lives in Britain has rights and responsibilities linked to these values. Rights – Everybody has rights. These are freedoms and ways of being treated fairly that everyone can expect. For example, all children have the right to a good quality education. Responsibilities – We all have responsibilities too. We should respect the rights of other people and behave in a way that does not prevent others from enjoying their rights. The United Kingdom includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Democracy Britain is a democracy. This means that every adult British citizen (with a few exceptions) can vote at local and general elections. At a general election, each constituency (area) votes for a member of parliament (MP). Every adult is able to vote for one person from a list of candidates (people standing for election). Usually these candidates belong to a political party. There are currently 650 constituencies. The party that gets the most MPs is able to form a government. Sometimes they have to work with another party if they do not get a majority (more than half of the seats in parliament). The government can propose laws, which parliament then votes on, and make important decisions for the country. Adults are also able to vote at local elections, to elect councillors who make decisions about local issues. British people visit a polling station to place their vote in a ballot box. The Palace of Westminster (also known as the Houses of Parliament) is often called the ‘heart of British politics’. Many schools have a school council, where the students elect representatives to help make decisions about the school.

The Rule of Law The Rule of Law is an important idea in Britain. It means that the laws apply to everybody. Laws, and rules in school, help to keep people safe and make sure that their rights are respected. In Britain, laws are made by parliament, which is elected by the people of the United Kingdom. The Police and the courts enforce the Rule of Law. If laws are broken, there are consequences, the same as in school. The courts can punish people who have broken the law by giving them a fine or putting them in prison, for example. Police investigate a crime scene. HM Prison Dartmoor in Devon. An illustration of a courtroom.

Groups of people choosing to take part in different activities with their friends and family. Individual Liberty Individual liberty means that as long as we do not break the law, we are free to do as we choose. This allows us to make choices, for example you have opportunities to make choices about what you eat, what you wear or who you are friends with. Of course we still have a responsibility to make sure that our choices do not stop others from enjoying their rights. Individual liberty doesn’t just mean doing whatever you like, whenever you want to! We still need to consider the effect our actions will have on the people around us.

Mutual respect People do not always agree, in fact it would be strange if they did! It is important to show respect for ideas and opinions, even if you do not agree with them. Mutual respect means that the respect is a two way process – you have the right to be respected, and the responsibility to respect other people. Remember that the other person has the same rights to express their opinion as you do. To show someone respect, you need to be thoughtful about their feelings and treat them in the same way that you would like to be treated.

Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs People of many different faiths live in the United Kingdom. Everyone is free to believe and worship as they choose, providing they obey the rule of law. Nobody should be discriminated against (treated unfairly) because of their faith. At school we have opportunities to learn about different faiths and cultures, and that helps us to understand and respect other people’s beliefs.