Promoting British Values at Our Lady Catholic Primary School

The DfE reinforces the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to 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. “The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.

 

At Our Lady Catholic Primary School, we understand that the society we live in is diverse and therefore, our curriculum and life within school reflects this. For our pupils, we aim to continually weave the thread of social, cultural, moral and spiritual British values throughout day to day school life. Underpinning this are the values and understanding of democracy, law, liberty, respect, tolerance, tradition and heritage. We will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including ‘extremist’ views. The ‘Equality Act 2010’ protects all individuals from discrimination and it is the school’s duty to ensure that all individuals have equal access and opportunity to all that is on offer. Funding, including that for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils, is used to target inequalities, to ensure equality.

 

At Our Lady, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

 

Democracy

 

Democracy is richly embedded within the school. The children decide upon their class mission statement and the rights associated with these, and their own rules.  Each class vote in two school council representatives which give every class a say on the decisions that are made in our school. The council meets every fortnight with the Headteacher to discuss any issues raised in class council meetings. The council is genuinely able to effect change within our school. The school has a Head Girl and Head Boy and a number of prefects who meet regularly to have an input into school life. Our PSHE curriculum encourages all aspects of respect for democracy and the democratic process. Playground buddies are appointed to encourage positive play and are trained to support children resolve conflict. Individual children are also appointed for posts of responsibility in the classroom such as Sports Leaders, House Team Captains and Mini Vinnies. All children have an annual questionnaire where they are able to put forward their views about the school. Our school behaviour policy involves rewards and sanctions through all aspects of school life and is also shared with parents and carers. 

 

 

The Rule of Law

 

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Our Lady Catholic Primary School. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Pupils are taught these rules from an early age in our Early Years Foundation Stage classes. Each class has an agreed set of rules and a behaviour contract. They also share E-safety and anti-bullying rules. The children are aware of the consequences of not following the rules in their school community. The children learn to understand the difference between right and wrong in all aspects of school life throughout the day. There is an opportunity for children to put right what has been done wrong, wherever possible. Children are given opportunity to understand aspects of civil and criminal law and discuss how this might be different from some religious laws. Pupils in our school expect and receive a fair system where actions are always respectfully justified. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws; that they exist to govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Expectations are reinforced regularly and opportunities are frequently sought to praise positive choices. Pupils demonstrating behaviour consistent with the school’s high expectations are recognised and used as role models to others.

Visits from authorities such as the emergency services (police, fire and ambulance) and in-school workshops from community based groups help to reinforce this message.

 

 

Individual Liberty

 

At Our Lady Catholic Primary school, our pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PHSE lessons. Each year the school focuses on Protective Behaviours, where children are taught how to be safe and identify people to talk to. Pupils are further empowered through having a school council and being able to take part in pupil forums which link directly to the senior leadership team or governors. Our children are encouraged to give their opinions and share these ideas with due regard for the feelings of others. As part of our curriculum, we place a huge emphasis on the social and emotional learning of our children and feel we send them off to secondary school as well rounded individuals. Pupils are given the freedom to make a wide range of choices from attending extra-curricular clubs to supporting fund raising events. We celebrate achievements both in and out of school in assemblies, through certificates and by following a personalised approach. We know our children really well and they know they are part of community. All of the children have access to designated staff members to talk through any difficulties they may be experiencing. This helps the children access support in a confidential and supportive way. We also have a ‘Worry Box’, which is checked each day by our supportive team.

 

 

Mutual Respect

 

Our Lady Catholic School is a culturally rich and diverse school where children have unique opportunities to learn from each other by sharing and celebrating their different cultures and traditions. Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect. This is an absolute expectation and forms the basis of our vision statement. Respect is one of our values taught explicitly within lessons and collective worship - which is shared with parents/carers through newsletters and information presented on the website. Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others with the expectation that all children do the same. Children are encouraged to share and celebrate their cultural identities. The school, through its wide and varied curriculum, makes comparisons between other countries and cultures in the world. We have also developed an international relationship with pupils from Ikebukuro Honcho Elementary School, in Tokyo, Japan.

 

 

Tolerance of those of different Faiths and Beliefs

 

Collective worship and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying are followed up and supported by learning in RE and PSHE (which reinforces our tolerance and respect for others). We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. As part of a Catholic school community, pupils are reminded of their place in a culturally diverse society. In our RE curriculum, we dedicate a week of our studies to learning about different faiths and we support this through visits to places of worship that are important to other faith groups. Assemblies and class work promote the diversity of society and the right for each person to be respected and valued equally regardless of ability gender, faith, heritage or race. Members of different faiths and religions are also encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Throughout school life, the children are encouraged to discuss differences between people such as their faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality. They also discuss differences in family life such as looked after children or young carers.

Pupils are helped to understand that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected.  They are taught that people having different faiths and beliefs to ourselves (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

 

 

British Traditions and Heritage

 

We celebrate the role of Britain both historically and in the present. We want pupils to have knowledge of and be proud of their British heritage and the cultural and historical traditions that we are renowned for the world over. This involves celebrating royal events, Remembrance Day, festivals such as Harvest, Christmas, Easter (alongside those from other cultures such as Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year, for example). The school recognises St George’s Day and any other Saint’s days. The children visit places of cultural significance in London for example, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament and the many museums.

Part of our vision at Our Lady Catholic Primary School is to prepare our children to become valued members of society.  Promoting British Values enables children to develop a sense of community and understand their responsibilities and roles within it. We work tirelessly to build a culture that will stand the test of time, where our pupils can become good, effective citizens. We teach our children to respect everyone regardless of any differences. Our home school agreement encourages partnership with the whole community, and we work to involve everybody in the life of the school.

 

                            

Our Lady School celebrated a 'British Values Week' from 23rd to 27th May.  Each class took a British Value and studied it in depth over the week.  Year 6 looked at Democracy and thought about the electoral system and its history particularly the Suffragette Movement.  Year 5 looked at the 'Rule of Law' and were visited by a trainee barrister and carried out a mock trial for the Big Bad Wolf.   Year 4 focussed on individual liberty and had some animated discussions about the balance between our own needs and our responsibilities.   Year 3 studied tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs by comparing creation stories.  Year 2 discussed mutual respect and thinking about respect within our school community and the wider community.  Year 1 looked at the Royal family.  The whole week culminated in a celebration street party which represented many British traditions, including Maypole dancing, a cake competition, vegetable and flower planting and a dog show (requiring creative use of toilet rolls!).