BRITISH VALUES
The School values aligining with British Values
The requirement for schools to prepare pupils for modern life with a focus on British values formally came into the curriculum in 2014, but Church schools have long been familiar with the need to articulate their fundamental Christian values.
Both sets of values overlap and one can clearly argue that the government’s stated British values have emerged from Britain’s long history as a Christian nation.
The key Christian beliefs that underpin both Christian Values and British values are that:
• God is a God of order, and that his world should reflect a sense of purpose, not chaos
• Every person is made in the image of God, known, loved and valued as a unique creation.
• Humans are designed to be interdependent, supporting others and being supported, like a body with many parts.
• The Bible provides laws to govern human affairs, but these also show up human weakness and the need for forgiveness
• The greatest command is to LOVE – God, oneself, one’s neighbour, and even one’s enemy – and, for a Christian, to love as Christ loved us.
Year 6 Community Group working alongside other local primary schools to support the community
Head teacher for the Day children elected by the whole school following a democratic vote
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Click on the link for our special Coronation event
https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-05-30/primary-school-recreates-coronation-service-for-queens-jubilee
Promoting British values
Democracy: General understanding.
- Providing pupils with a broad general knowledge of and promote respect for public institutions and services through lessons, assemblies and curriculum programmes
- Using pupil Groups to teach their peers how they can influence decision making through democratic process
- Encouraging children to be aware of injustice, perceived or real and think about ways in which this can be challenged through school processes or in the wider world, Charity Fundraising initiatives and awareness raising campaigns.
Links with Christian Values:
At St. Paul's we show the Christian values of Respect and Responsibility as focuessed in Democracy
Galatians 3:28 “You are all one in Jesus Christ.”
The Christian values of Respect and Responsibility are focussed in Democracy.
At the beginning of every academic year, each class creates rules for conduct and learning, which permit discussion and agreement between all stakeholders.
Children also have an opportunity to join the school council and be an active participant in decisions made in the school, as well as developing life skills such as choral speaking providing confidence to speak out, teamwork and negotiation. Children represent others’ views, as well as their own in meetings.
Children are encouraged to stand up for their beliefs, express their opinions clearly but at the same time respecting the right to disagree. We find opportunities to do this in PSHCE, Class Services, in English and Humanities lessons, where moral dilemmas and situations are debated and considered
Rule of Law : General Understanding
- Ensuring school rules and expectations are transparent, clear and fair, available for all to consult and that they are used consistently across the different areas and age groups within the school.
- Helping our children to distinguish right from wrong through discussion and modelling positive behaviour
- Helping our children to understand that the law and living under the rule of law is intended to protect individuals and to seek opportunities in lessons to review understanding of the rule of law and its effects upon individuals and groups.
- Helping our children to understand that the law is to be respected through upholding and adhering to it as a community and to our own school expectations.
Links with Christian Values:
At St. Paul's we show the Christian values as focussed in the Rule of Law:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except
thosewhich God has established.” Romans 13 v.1
St. Paul's value the importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, school or the country are consistently reinforced during everyday life at school.
At the start of the school year, every class discusses and sets its own set of expectations that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and caring environment.
Our children are taught the value and reasons behind rules, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when rules are broken. We involve our pupils in making decisions and choices that are acceptable to the school community and society at large.
They are helped to learn to manage their behaviour and take responsibility for their actions. Our Behaviour Policy is evidently embedded in pupils’ daily conduct promoting a safe environment.
Through our PSHE programme, we organise visits from the local community who reinforce the importance of laws and rules, as well as the consequences of breaking laws in the society in which we live.
Where appropriate, we seek to use “restorative justice”, for misdemeanours, such as attending 'Keep Shining' coaching with staff members and also writing letters of apology. This helps encourage the concept of atonement. Our Behaviour policy includes references to Child on Child Abuse whcih ensures that labels of bully and victim are not used and instead, an understanding is sought as to why children have broken school rules and any underlying difficulties that they may be experiencing.
Children also participate in nominating and electing class councillors and a range of pupil group leaders ensuring pupil voice and representation.
Individual Liberty: General understanding
- Supporting all our children to develop positive self-esteem, self-confidence and self-awareness and self- knowledge.
- Encouraging our children to have responsibility for their own behaviour and acknowledge the effects it may have on others.
- Challenging stereotypes and promoting individuality at every opportunity, modelled by staff to set positive examples through the school.
- Working tirelessly to establish and maintain a climate in which all our children feel safe and bullying is not tolerated
Links with Christian Values:
At St. Paul's our Christian values encourage respect, responsibility and readiness as focussed in Individual Liberty
'Christ has set us free' - Galatians 5 vs 1
At St. Paul's, children are actively encouraged to make choices. We educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering curriculum. This may be through the choice of challenge, who they work with and how they present their work, Children may also choose to participate in extra-curricular activities; our pupils are given the freedom to make choices. Our children are taught to be responsible for themselves, to respect their freedom of choice and to be ready to stand up for individual freedom and liberty.
Respect and Tolerance: General Understanding
- Promoting respect for individual differences
- Using curricular and extracurricular opportunities to expose our children to British and other cultures, their ways of life and faiths, encouraging and supporting our children to grow in their understanding and appreciation of these.
- Discussing differences between people: ethnicity, gender, faith, disability, sexuality and family situations such as young carers or looked after children ensuring that our children can understand these different elements within British society.
Links with Christian Values:
At St. Paul's the christian values encourage respect and tolerance of others
Respect: "Be devoted to one another, love one another above yourselves" -Romans 12:10
At St. Paul's, we expect all members of our school to work as a team and to treat each other with respect.
Respect is a Christian Value of our school and is a strong theme within our collective worship and keep shining coaching sessions with children. The children know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone and to everything.
Our children learn that we live in a country which is full of diversity. They are taught to respect and celebrate these differences, whoever they are.
The Christian values encourage Tolerance of Those With Different Faiths and Beliefs.
'Do not judge others and you will not be judged' - Matthew 7 v.1
Our Christian Values through the Fruits of the Spirit ensure tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs. St. Paul's C E primary School as part of Crompton House Multi Academy Trust enhances pupils’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through RE, P.S.H.E, and participation in celebrations of different faiths.
Our curriculum (Manchester Diocese Agreed Syllabus for RE) provides opportunities where pupils feel secure to explore, reflect, develop curiosity and independence, whilst working collaboratively within a culture which respects each other’s ambitions.
Our RE lessons actively promote the diversity, embrace different faiths and beliefs (including those who follow no faith), and we reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Through Religious Education we are also able to develop an awareness and appreciation of all cultures. We are part of St Paul's Church community and the Vicar visits school regularly and is an active member of our local governing body.
At St. Paul's we are ready to actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views and all members of staff have completed Prevent Training.
RATIONALE FOR BRITISH VALUES At ST. PAUL'S
RATIONALE
We believe British values are best defined as 'democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs' although these values are not actually unique to Britain alone.
We have a duty to actively promote and embed these values and to challenge pupils, school personnel or parents who express extremist views contrary to fundamental British values. We want to ensure pupils are prepared for life in modern Britain by the active promotion of and respect of British values.
PURPOSE
• To actively promote and embed British values.
• To give pupils first-hand experience of the diverse make-up of modern British society.
• To challenge pupils, school personnel or parents who express extremist views contrary to fundamental
British values.
• To keep our pupils safe and ensure they are prepared for life in modern Britain by the active promotion of and respect of British values.
• To share good practice within the school and with other schools.
We believe these values are reinforced regularly through a broad and balanced curriculum and through:
• Working towards being a UNICEF Rights Respecting school, the school council, pupil questionnaires, Pupil Group elections; class rules and Head teacher for the Day (Democracy)
• School expectation, playground rules, Health and Safety class rules; visits from the Police, visits to a council chamber and to meet local councillors (Rule of Law)
• E-Safety, PSHE, extra-curricular activities (Individual Liberty)
• Shine awards, behaviour policy (Mutual Respect)
• RE, PSHE, themed assemblies celebration of different faiths and cultures, visit to places of worship of world faiths, promoting different languages, links with other schools (Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs)
We give pupils 'first-hand experience of the diverse make-up of modern British society' by teaching them respect for other faiths and developing their awareness and knowledge of communities different than their own.
We value the diverse ethnic backgrounds of all our pupils and throughout the year we hold a variety of events to celebrate these. We actively promote British Values every week in our ‘Family Worship’ celebrating individual in school and out of school successes and celebrate the achievement of those children who promote them well.
We 'expect teachers to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school' and 'not to undermine fundamental British values'.
We aim to be judged at least good in all school inspections by ensuring that pupils understand the importance of British values and leave school ready to play their full part in British society.
BROAD GUIDELINES
Role of the Senior Leadership Team is to:
• ensure all school staff, pupils and parents are aware of and comply with this policy;
• challenge any pupil, member of school staff, parent or governor who expresses opinions contrary to fundamental British values;
• provide leadership and vision in respect of equality;
• provide guidance, support and training to all staff;
PROMOTING BRITISH VALUES
• make effective use of relevant research and information to improve this policy;
• monitor the effectiveness of this policy by: monitoring learning and teaching through observing lessons;
• monitoring planning and assessment;
• speaking with pupils, school personnel, parents and governors
Role of the staff is to:
• maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour within and outside school and not to undermine fundamental British values;
• work hard to maintain a positive ethos;
• work hard to maintain a safe and respected school environment;
• show respect for all members of the school community;
• develop positive working relationships with pupils, staff, parents and governors;
• plan and deliver good to outstanding lessons;
• have high expectations of their pupils;
• achieve high standards;
• celebrate the success of pupils in lessons
• work hard to maintain a positive ethos;
• work hard to maintain a safe and respected school environment;
• promote good behaviour;
• work in partnership parents and carers keeping them up to date with their child's progress and behaviour at school;
• eport and deal with all incidents of discrimination;
• report any concerns they have on any aspect of the school community.
Role of the parents is to:
• take an active role in the life of the school by attending: parents evening, learning review day, curriculum evening, class assemblies, school concerts, fundraising and social events take part in periodic surveys conducted by the school;
• ensure regular and punctual attendance;
• notify school on the first day of pupil absence;
• encourage effort and achievement and completion of homework and return it to school;
• provide the right conditions for homework to take place;
• expect their child to hand in homework on time;
• join the school in celebrating success of their child's learning;
• support the school Code of Conduct and guidance necessary to ensure smooth running of the school;
• ensure correct school uniform is worn.
CONCLUSION
Through the practical application of this policy we will ensure that our pupils will be well equipped
to deal with the diverse make-up of modern British society' by having respect for other faiths and a good awareness and knowledge of communities different than their own.
Linked Policies
Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural
Equality
Complaints
Behaviour
