British Values

In compliance with The Department for Education, we aim to actively promote British values in school to ensure our young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.

At St Aelred’s Catholic Primary School, we aspire for our pupils to play a positive role in contributing to the school and wider community. We live in a constantly changing and evolving society. It is therefore important that we teach our pupils British Values which give them the skills they need to develop as citizens for modern Britain.

Intent

We intend to do this by teaching the key values of:

• democracy
• the rule of law
• individual liberty
• mutual respect
• tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Many of these values are embedded within our Catholic Ethos and Mission, but in addition St Aelred’s uses strategies within the National Curriculum and beyond to secure pupils’ understanding of the wider implications of British values. The examples that follow show some of the ways in which St Mary’s seeks to embed British values.

Democracy

Elections are held for school council representatives across classes. This fosters the concept of freedom of speech and group action to address need and concerns. Within their classes, pupils are able to vote to make choices brought to them by these representatives.

Pupils explore the principle of democracy in age-appropriate assemblies. Older pupils run mock elections and learn about the mechanism of government in the UK, helping them to develop an understanding of the vital importance of democracy in securing a fair society where everyone has a voice. In our Remembrance assemblies and teaching, we recognised all those who fought and died in the World Wars to maintain and uphold our values.

 

 

The Rule of Law

The school has a clear behaviour policy and the highest standards of behaviour of both pupils and staff are lived out. The rights and responsibilities of every pupil are emphasised through our class-based behaviour rules, which are developed by the whole group, and through the use of Restorative Approaches to serious or protracted issues, which focus on the harm that has been done and on how it might be mended. Our RE and PSHE curricula recognise and underline the importance of the ideas, feelings and needs of others. Assemblies emphasise that we are all equal under the law and that it is not only wrong, but illegal to discriminate against others on the basis of characteristics such as disability, gender, race or faith. Visits from authorities such as the PCSO and Fire Service help to reinforce the message that our laws are for the protection of all.

We aim to ensure that our pupils have the knowledge and confidence to withstand attempts to radicalise them by alerting them to the intolerance that is inherent in all extremist viewpoints.

 

Individual liberty

Pupils at St Aelred’s are encouraged to know and understand their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely through e-safety workshops, PSHE curriculum, circle times and assemblies. Pupils are encouraged to exercise their right to free speech by articulating their views to their Pupil Leadership Representatives. This has built up a strong sense of trust, because pupils know that adults take their concerns seriously, that they will listen and, where necessary, take action.

We aim to ensure that pupils know their rights, but also that they are aware of the responsibilities that they entail. Teachers and other staff endeavour to set clear, consistent boundaries so that pupils can make informed choices in a safe, secure and supportive environment.

 

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the heart of our faith: Jesus said, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ At St Aelred’s we recognise the need to value the unique contribution of each person in our school. We expect all members of the St Aelred’’s community to treat each other with respect, consideration and integrity. Pupils learn through their interactions with staff and each other, in the curriculum and assemblies that their behaviour has an impact on others. They frequently work collaboratively and are encouraged to listen to and value the opinions of others.

Pupils are encouraged to understand and reach out to communities who are less fortunate than themselves and each year raise significant amounts for charity, demonstrating their respect for those who live in very different circumstances to ours. Pupils are encouraged to organise their own fundraising events for charities that they wish to support.

 

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Despite being a faith school, we welcome pupils from other faiths or none. As we grow, our intake is becoming more ethnically and religiously diverse which is adding to the richness of our community. Tolerance is emphasised through our RE and PSHE curriculum and our assemblies’ programme, which celebrates key dates and festivals of other faiths and gives pupils an understanding of the beliefs and customs that underpin them.

Pupils benefit from the opportunity of hearing about different communities and faith traditions in the UK and the world, and we encourage parents and others to share their culture and customs with the children.

We encourage pupils to understand their place within a culturally diverse society and above all to ensure that they leave St Aelred’s with a set of values which will ensure they will contribute positively to society in the future.