St Chad's Catholic Primary School

British Values

 

At St Chad’s Catholic Primary School, we develop and promote British Values throughout our school and within our curriculum. We encourage pupils to develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in Britain. 

We provide an education that focuses on the formation of the whole person where Christ is at the centre of all that we are and all that we do.  We are guided by our mission statement, “We grow in the light of Christ, to share his love and reflect the Gospel Values.” Where children are taught through the Gospel values how we should treat one another through compassion, love, truthfulness and being active in the choices that we make throughout the school day. 

 

What is meant by British values? 

Learning about British values forms a key part of children’s spiritual, moral, cultural and social education. The five British values that the Government has identified for schools to focus on are: 

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
  • Developing personal and social responsibility
  • Mutual Respect

 

At St Chad’s we actively promote British Values in the following ways: 

 

Democracy 

  • Taking turns during lessons, at lunchtime and during after school clubs.
  • Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged.
  • Democracy is shown through history topics where relevant.
  • Pupils vote for their school captains and their House Team captains.
  • Teaching about the democratic process in Britain, at both a local and national level. We teach about communities and pressure groups, how children can participate in these and make changes to life at all levels from local to global.
  • Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school.

 

The Rule of Law 

  • Ensuring school rules and expectations are clear and fair.
  • Having a clear behaviour policy that is explained to all.
  • Classroom routines are explained and demonstrated and are revised on a weekly basis.
  • Class rules and celebration of adhering to these rules.
  • Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong.
  • Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made.
  • Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.
  • Teaching children an understanding of human rights, in particular the UNICEF rights of the child.  Through the curriculum and during PSHE lessons, references are made to the articles from the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
  • Highlighting the rules of the Church and God though the RE curriculum, for example the 10 commandments and the Precepts of the Church
  • Include visits from the police across the year – The Police Community Support Officers came in on 16th November 2022 to hold a “Knife and Gang Crime workshop” with Y5/Y6.  PCSO included talking to the children about the age of criminal responsibility, keeping safe along with explaining how it would be dangerous to run errands for groups of people and answering questions from the children.
  • Cycling Proficiency lessons enable children to understand the rules of the road and the potential dangers encountered should they break those rules.
  • During PSHE lessons in KS2, children learn to recognise reasons for rules and laws along with consequences of not adhering to rules and laws.  

 

Tolerance for 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. 
  • Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying are supported by learning in RE and PSHE.
  • This value is accessed by the children when they discuss Article 13 of the UNCRC – ‘Freedom of Expression’ and Article 14 ‘Freedom of thought, belief and religion’.
  • We teach understanding of the beliefs of other faiths through Faith in the City Week, and children take part in multi-faith activities.
  • Places of worship are visited as part of Faith in Our City
  • Members of different communities hold coffee mornings where everyone is invited to join in.
  • Multi-cultural days are held to help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.
  • Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour. This is addressed during discussion about the UNCRC Article 2 ‘Non-Discrimination of the Rights’. 
  • Promote respect for individual differences.
  • During PSHE lessons in KS 2, children learn to listen and respond respectfully to a wide range of people, including those whose traditions, beliefs and lifestyles are different from their own.
  • Year 3 and Year 4 during their Ten; Ten ‘Living Life to the Full’, PSHE lessons learn about personal identity; what contributes to who we are (e.g.  Ethnicity, family, gender, faith, culture, hobbies, likes/dislikes).

 

Individual Liberty  

  • Encourage students to be independent in their learning. 
  • Provide students with opportunities for reflection as they take responsibility for discerning their vocation.
  • Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights; 
  • Providing extra-curricular provision, which offers equal opportunities for all children, boys’ and girls’, and children with Special Educational Needs in sport and other areas.
  • Holding discussions in RE, English and other subjects, which allow children to develop respect for the opinions, values and beliefs of others.
  • Challenging stereotypes 
  • In PSHE lessons about vocations, KS 2 children learn about stereotypes in the workplace and that a person’s career aspirations should not be limited by them.
  • In PSHE lessons, KS 2 children learn about how stereotypes can negatively influence behaviours and attitudes towards others and look at strategies for challenging stereotypes.
  • Implementing a strong anti-bullying culture
  • Article 6 ‘Life, Survival and Development’; Article 12 Respect for the Views of the Child’ and Article 19 of the UNCRC is linked with this value – ‘Protection from violence, abuse and neglect’. 
  • Safer Internet Days and holding information sessions for parents about this.
  • During PSHE lessons and school nurse sessions for KS 2, personal safety is taught with reference to social media, games and online gaming. They also learn to recognise ways in which the internet and social media can be used both positively and negatively. 

 

Developing Personal and Social Responsibility 

  • Through PSHE lessons, children learn about the different roles and responsibilities people have in their community. They learn about the new opportunities and responsibilities that increasing independence may bring and the relationship between rights and responsibilities. 
  • Children learn the importance of having compassion towards others; shared responsibilities we all have for caring for other people and living things; how to show care and concern for others during PSHE lessons and learn ways of carrying out shared responsibilities for protecting the environment in school and at home; how everyday choices can affect the environment (e.g. reducing, reusing, recycling; food choices) 
  • In PSHE lessons, children learn about the different groups that make up their community; what living in a community means and about diversity: what it means; the benefits of living in a diverse community.
  • During the Spring Term, we will start a Junior PCSO Programme with 10 x Y4 children. This will cover topics such as, PCSO Pledge and rule setting, Phonetic Alphabet and bullying, Road Safety, Antisocial Behaviour, Litter picking, Knife Crime, Age of Consent. 

 

Mutual Respect 

  • Our school ethos and Behaviour Policy encourage us to be Compassionate, Active and Truthful.
  • Pupils are involved in discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown.
  • Education is the door to our aspirations in life. Teaching and learning are the key to achieving those aspirations. To be the very best of the person we are given the opportunities to become.
  • Discussions around articles 8 ‘Protection and Preservation of Identity’; 12 ‘Respect for the Views of the Child’; 14 ‘Freedom of thought, Belief and Religion’; 28 ‘Right to Education’ (and respecting children’s dignity and their rights) and 29 ‘Goals of Education’ (including encouraging children’s respect for human rights, their parents, and their own and others’ cultures and environment) from the UNCRC help children to understand the importance of this value. 
  • In KS 1 PSHE lessons and in general discussions throughout the school, children learn about how to treat themselves and others with respect; how to be polite and courteous. 
  • In KS 2 PSHE lessons, children learn what constitutes a positive healthy friendship (e.g. mutual respect, trust, truthfulness, loyalty, kindness, generosity, sharing interests and experiences, support with problems and difficulties)
  • Through the Ten:Ten ‘Life to the Full’ scheme of work, children learn to recognise the importance of self-respect and how this can affect their thoughts and feelings about themselves; that everyone, including them.  They learn that they should expect to be treated politely and with respect by others (including when online and/or anonymous) in school and in wider society; strategies to improve or support courteous, respectful relationships.
  • Posters around school reinforce our expectations and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our Behaviour Policy.
  • High expectations of achievement and behaviour. 
  • Listening and respecting each other. We teach the children that conflict will be dealt with calmly and fairly. All members of the school family are valued equally.
  • Virtues certificates (based round the Jesuit Virtues) where children recognise the good that others have done.
  • Celebrating each other’s achievements whether that be in or out of school through our weekly celebration assembly.
  • Working closely with schools in the St Teresa of Calcutta multi-academy and through the schools in caritas Christi
  • Supporting charitable works in our community, city, country and worldwide.
  • During PE lessons, after school clubs and external competitions, the School Games values of teamwork, self-belief, respect, passion, honesty and determination are consistently reiterated and reinforced to help children to become shining examples of sportsmanship, both now and in the future.

 

 

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