Trainee Teachers “Unravel, Criticise and Re-imagine” British Values

Abstract

This chapter relays trainee teachers’ conceptions of Fundamental British Values (FBVs) and their attitudes towards an educational policy on FBV. My research at a London teacher training institution reveals future teachers wary of promoting patriotic agendas about a notion that they perceive as ambiguous and debatable. I show how the trainee Art teachers were mystified on personal and professional levels by FBV. Finding it difficult to define Britishness and FBV, they resorted to recalling common stereotypes about British identities. Rejecting reification and homogeneity, the trainee teachers viewed FBV as problematic and contentious. The trainee teachers emphasised the need to explore multicultural Britishness and universal values, and called for more guidance, support and training.