British Values | Chorlton Park Primary

British Values

In accordance with the Department for Education, we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Our Children are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong,’ all people living in England should abide by its Laws. At St Bridget’s Catholic Primary School, we actively promote British Values. We recognise the diversity within our society and ensure that British Values are embedded within our curriculum.

We promote the key values of British Values in many ways throughout the daily life of our school:

 

Democracy

  • Our School Council promotes the democratic process - pupils nominate and vote for their representatives within the School Council. The school council meet regularly and their ideas and suggestions are listened to and considered carefully. Many of their decisions have a positive impact on the life of our school and the local and wider community.
  • Our marking policy encourages feedback enabling pupils to respond to and influence the learning process.
  • Children create and adhere to class rules.
  • Pupils and parents are surveyed regularly and the results of those surveys inform aspects of the School Development Plan.
  • Children are encouraged to voice their opinions in formal and informal ways (suggestion boxes, questionnaires, RSHE sessions)

 

Individual Liberty

  • Children are provided with boundaries which encourage them to make choices safely.
  • Pupils are encouraged to respectfully express their views and beliefs
  • Pupils have the opportunity, and are encouraged to, take part in a broad range of extra-curricular activities
  • Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example, through our RSHE and E-Safety lessons.
  • Pupils know who to speak to if they are worried or concerned about themselves or others, e.g. Pastoral Care Mentor, teachers, teaching assistants and dinner nannies.

 

Extremism

Our overriding aim is to teach children to be resilient to extremism. This involves pupils being taught how to ask probing questions and make sound judgements for themselves; about what is right and wrong. Our global curriculum enables pupils to learn that there are many differing views and experiences in the world outside of their own. Our Values Education and RSHE learning also promote the development of self-confidence, self-worth and a sense of identity. They allow pupils opportunities to reflect on, and discuss, different lifestyles and facets of identity, as well as being able to ask questions, to challenge inappropriate and harmful ideologies, and stand up for what they believe is right.

 

Respect of those of different faith and beliefs

  • Our RE and RSHE curriculum provides children with a broad and balanced understanding of world religions and promotes respect for the beliefs of others.
  • We provide resources to ensure that all pupils are effectively integrated into the teaching and learning process and the wider school community, including those that join at different starting points and those who have English as an additional language.

 

Mutual Respect

  • Pupils work in teams, share ideas in public and show respect for other pupils’ opinions during class discussions, assemblies, sporting events and concerts
  • School rules reinforce mutual respect
  • All members of the school community treat each other with respect and model this in behaviour with colleagues and pupils
  • Pupils work together in different groupings and situations in different lessons and subjects
  • All pupils participate in live productions, singing, dancing, choral speaking and assemblies throughout the school year.

 

The Rule of Law

  • We have clear rules and expectations of behaviour which is adhered to by all pupils, staff and other stakeholders.
  • Each class has a class set of rules created by and signed by the pupils at the start of each academic year.
  • School assemblies follow regular themes and include e-safety, road safety, stranger danger and caring for the environment.
  • Every child participates in Health and Safety week where they have the opportunity to understand more about the importance of keeping safe and healthy at school and in their lives in general. Visits from emergency services and local health and safety officers, reinforces the rule of law and the reasoning/purpose behind them.
  • Attendance and punctuality is good and all children and staff are aware of the importance of being at school. Weekly class certificates for attendance are awarded in assembly. Regular attendance is recognised and rewarded.
  • Pupils follow, respect and understand the need for different rules in different situations, i.e. PE lessons, school visits, classrooms and the playground.
  • Pupils are awarded weekly Star of the Week certificates in recognition of their learning behaviours.
  • The school supports pupils in regulating their own behaviour to make choices for the well-being of themselves and others.

 

British Values forms part of the HRSE Curriculum and is planned according to the different levels of children’s skills and previous knowledge.  A range of teaching strategies and learning styles will be used in delivering this area of the Curriculum which include:

  • Circle time and class discussion
  • Different and imaginative styles of writing
  • Links to the RE programme of study
  • Role play and drama
  • Visits and visitors when appropriate
  • Class lesson time
  • Assemblies to introduce weekly topics
  • Structured group work
  • Nurture groups
  • Play and games

 

We use ‘Picture News’ in School, as a stimulus for Assembly and discussion about current affairs, with direct links to British Values.

Picture News provides a different focus each week, in the form of a powerful image and ‘Big Question.’ These form the basis for a whole school assembly and class discussion or Circle Time.  Our Children are encouraged to consider, discuss and express their own ideas around these issues.