PRIMARY school pupils are learning about the country's greatest figures, from artists to sports heroes, as part of a week celebrating Great Britons.

Hill Top Primary School in Low Moor has organised a week of activities to celebrate the nation's creativity and culture, with pupils yesterday learning about artists, including Bradford-born David Hockney and LS Lowry.

It is all part of a national push by the Government for schools to teach British values.

New guidelines for schools released last year by the then coalition government called for more focus on spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils as well as British values, with Ofsted inspectors asked to look at how effective schools are in teaching these values.

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Guidance released by the government says: "Schools should 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."

Staff at Hill Top decided one of the best ways to appreciate the country's values was to celebrate some of its most famous sons and daughters. On Monday pupils looked at royalty and the country's rich royal history and were even visited by Henry VIII.

Yesterday they studied great British artists, including the Beatles and Shakespeare, and years one and four visited Cartwright Hall art gallery to take part in workshops to learn the styles of Lowry and Hockney.

Today the pupils will study inventors and scientists, like Charles Darwin, and tomorrow they will learn about British sports heroes, as well as being paid a visit by Team GB decathlete David Gardiner and representatives from Bradford Bulls.

On Friday the children will wear red, white and blue, enjoy fish and chips and host a visit from the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds. More than 100 pupils will then spend the night camping on the school field.

Head teacher Des Martin said: "The messages reinforced by this week will support our children's understanding and awareness of our rich culture and history.

"There is currently a significant amount of debate about how the values of our society are fundamental to a growing and vibrant country and economy.

"At Hill Top this has been considered in some detail as has how what we teach and how it is taught can be best planned to ensure our children develop into excellent citizens of our country."

Councillor Ralph Berry, executive for education on Bradford Council, said schools in the district had been teaching British values long before the government policy. He said: "The council has done some really good work in supporting schools in teaching British values.

"We have to give young people an important reference to people who have shaped the city and this country."