As the days grow longer and the Magnolias begin to bloom, British spring brings with it the shoots of budding brilliance. Year 4 are also experiencing this, as seeds of ‘Who Were the Early British Law Makers’ were planted at the beginning of this half term and have now budded into a full grown understanding of what justice and British Values are. 

Year 4’s journey into understanding what it is to be British began by digging deep into 800 years of cruel and unusual punishments and the beginning of the Rule of Law with a close look at the Magna Carta, where the seeds were sown.  Individual liberty stems from this freedom and Norman Noble, Simon De Montforts’ first Parliament is born.  Growth of Democracy branches into the House of Commons, the House of Lords and with the Monarch’s fancy signature, new laws have been introduced through Westminster for generations, helping Britain evolve and bud into a multicultural society that prides itself on Tolerance and Mutual Respect.   

Finally, the children’s journey through British legal evolution was consolidated with a trip to The Royal Courts of Justice.  Realisation flowers with the knowledge of how laws are upheld by the four levels of justice and an interactive experience served as the perfect way to witness how decisions and punishments are delivered through cases and trials.  The Trial of Robin Hood proved to be very popular with the public and to most of the children’s relief, justice prevailed as the jury’s decision to set Robin free due to inconclusive evidence was celebrated by all! His fight for freedom, mutual respect, tolerance towards others and justice for everyone in the land, all those years ago, was deeply rooted in British Values.