THE BRITISH VALUES TRUST
Do they know it's Christmas?
Bring the nativity, carols and Christmas traditions back to our schools.
Do they know it's Christmas?
Christmas single released 7th November on all music streaming channels with a special new music video.
Our Mission: Bring Christmas Back to Schools
Christmas is part of the fabric of British life. For generations, its traditions have brought families, schools and communities together, connecting us through a shared history, culture and identity.
Our mission is to protect and restore the celebration of Christmas in British schools. We want children to experience the magic of nativity plays, Christmas carols, Christmas fairs and the story of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus.
We believe our traditions should be celebrated, not erased, renamed or quietly forgotten. Respecting other cultures and religions should never mean abandoning our own.
Through leaflets, community campaigns and practical support for parents, we will encourage schools to embrace Christmas proudly and give families the confidence to speak up when cherished traditions disappear.
We want every child to know where these traditions came from, what they mean and why they are worth preserving.
Christmas is our heritage, our history and part of our shared identity.
Let's keep it alive for generations to come.
Step by step guide to bringing Christmas back to your school.
The Parent Action Plan
How to Bring Christmas Back to Your School
Our campaign promise: We want every primary school child, whatever their age, to experience the joy of performing in a traditional nativity play. We want every school to celebrate Christmas proudly, preserve its Christmas Fair and pass these traditions on to the next generation.
Part One: What We Are Asking Schools to Do
Primary schools — The Christmas Promise
We are asking every primary school to adopt five annual commitments:
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Teach the Christmas story. Every child should have age-appropriate lessons about Mary, Joseph, the birth of Jesus and the origins of Christmas, as part of the school's December teaching programme.
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Every primary school should stage a traditional nativity play every Christmas, with meaningful acting and performance opportunities for children from Reception through Year 6. Ten- and eleven-year-olds are not too old to take part.
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Sing traditional Christmas carols. Children should have the opportunity to learn the words and melodies of familiar carols.
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Make Christmas memorable. Incorporate Christmas crafts, decorations, storytelling and seasonal activities into school life.
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Make it an annual commitment. Publish the Christmas teaching and activities in the school calendar and curriculum plans so they do not depend entirely on the enthusiasm of individual teachers.
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Keep the Christmas Fair a Christmas Fair. Schools and PTAs should preserve the traditional name and continue the decorations, stalls, music and festivities that generations of families have enjoyed.
The aim is universal access to Christmas education and traditions, while observing lawful parental withdrawal rights and appropriate choices around performance and worship.
Secondary schools — The Carol Concert Promise
We are asking every secondary school to:
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Hold an annual traditional Christmas carol concert.
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Include familiar carols such as Silent Night, Once in Royal David's City, O Come, All Ye Faithful and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
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Give pupils opportunities to sing, perform, play instruments, give readings or attend.
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Invite parents, grandparents and the wider school community.
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Include the concert in the school's annual calendar.
A carol concert can take place in the school hall, a local church or another suitable community venue.
It should become something pupils look forward to each December, and something that successive generations of families can share.
Part Two: Ten Steps Every Parent Can Take
Step 1 — Find out what your school currently does
Before starting, look at the school's website, calendar, newsletters and curriculum information.
For primary schools, find out whether the nativity story is taught, whether a nativity performance takes place and which traditional Christmas activities are offered.
For secondary schools, check whether there is an annual carol concert, a choir, or another Christmas music event.
If traditions have changed, ask when and why. A change of event name does not necessarily mean that Christmas teaching has disappeared.
Your first objective is to understand what is happening.
Step 2 — Download the Parent Christmas Pack
Our campaign will provide a free downloadable pack containing:
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A letter to the headteacher.
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A letter to school governors or academy trustees.
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A parent petition template.
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A simple guide to school curriculum decisions.
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Suggested Christmas lessons and activities.
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A practical guide to organising a nativity or carol concert.
Parents should not have to start from scratch.
Step 3 — Write to the headteacher
Send a friendly, constructive email asking what the school has planned and whether it will consider introducing or restoring the relevant Christmas traditions.
Ask for a reply and, if necessary, a meeting.
Make the request specific. The aim is not simply to ask schools to celebrate Christmas more, but to secure a commitment to particular activities and teaching.
Step 4 — Find other parents who would like to help
Speak to other parents and the PTA. Share the campaign pack and invite families to support the proposal.
A simple parent petition can demonstrate interest. Ask supporters to explain which Christmas school memories they particularly value and what they would like their children to experience.
Keep the focus on creating opportunities for children.
Step 5 — Offer practical help
Schools may face pressures involving staff time, costs, rehearsal space and scheduling.
Our campaign should make it easier to say yes.
Parents could offer to help fund costumes, provide decorations, organise fundraising, support refreshments or find a suitable venue.
Volunteers should work within the school's safeguarding arrangements and under school supervision.
Step 6 — Request a meeting and agree a plan
Ask to meet the headteacher and, where appropriate, the RE lead, music lead or PTA representative.
Bring a simple written proposal showing what is wanted, how it could fit into the school calendar and what support parents can provide.
Ask whether something can be arranged this Christmas. If preparations are already too far advanced, request a firm commitment for December 2027.
Step 7 — Ask for a written annual commitment
Once a school agrees, request that the activities become part of its regular planning.
For primary schools, that means Christmas education appearing in the appropriate curriculum plans, alongside an annual nativity or Christmas performance.
For secondary schools, that means a Christmas carol concert appearing in the school calendar every December.
This is important because the objective is a lasting tradition, not a one-off event.
Step 8 — If necessary, approach governors or the academy trust
If the school declines, ask for the proposal to be considered by the governing body or academy trust.
Explain the educational and community benefits, provide details of parental support and ask for the reasons behind the decision.
For primary-school curriculum concerns in England, parents can also consult their local authority's agreed RE syllabus. The local Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) is a useful point of contact for syllabus questions, although academies and certain other schools have different arrangements.
Parents can ask for the matter to be considered during the next syllabus review.
Step 9 — Report the outcome to the national campaign
Let us know whether your school already celebrates Christmas, has agreed to introduce or restore a tradition, is considering the request or has declined.
We will record verified outcomes to understand what is happening and which approaches have proved useful.
Parents should be able to submit their experience privately. No children or individual teachers should be publicly identified without appropriate permission.
Step 10 — Celebrate your school's success
When a school agrees to introduce a nativity or restore a carol concert, thank the headteacher, teachers, governors, volunteers and parents.
With the school's agreement, tell the local newspaper, share a photograph of the decorations or stage, and encourage other parents to learn from the experience.
A successful campaign should be measured by the number of children receiving these opportunities, not simply the number of petitions signed.