The DfE have recently reinforced 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.”
Individual Liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and nurturing environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely. Whether it is through choices of challenge; of how they record; participate in our numerous extra-curricular activities; our pupils are given the freedom to make choices. We support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. Through our positive relationships and behaviour policy, we encourage the pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour and learn through the behaviour choices they make to ensure pupils flourish through these learning opportunities. We have also implemented a strong anti-bullying and safeguarding culture and work with agencies such as Barnardos and the NSPCC to support this.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. The Christian distinctiveness of our school and the strong Church of England ethos ensures that Collective Worships and learning opportunities carefully and rigorously involve discussions around prejudices and prejudice based bullying. Both the Religious Education and PSHE curriculum ensure that pupils have ample opportunity to explore the similarities and differences between different faiths or religions and are encouraged to share their knowledge and ask questions to extend their learning.
Democracy
Democracy is embedded at the school. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through School Council and regular questionnaires. The elections of the School Council members and the pupil nominations of those added to the Be the Light tree, reflect our British electoral system and demonstrate democracy in action.
Mutual Respect
Respect is one of the core values of our school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small. The core value of respect underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom and emulates one of the three school rules; to show respect and good manners at all times. We help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life by discussing differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as looked-after children or young carers.