British Values
British Values are important to us. They represent the relationships we form with one another.
We are committed to serving the community and surrounding areas. We recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom and understand the crucial role our school plays in promoting these values.
We understand the importance of the current Ofsted guidance: should ensure that they and the school promote tolerance and respect for people of all faiths (or those of no faith), cultures and lifestyles; and support and help, through their words, actions and influence within the school and more widely in the community, to prepare children and young people positively for life in modern Britain.
Democracy
Children are actively encouraged to have a voice and share their views and opinions regularly. Each month we hold a class council session. During this time, our Year 6 pupils will visit each class and collect pupil voice on a range of issues. They will then meet with the headteacher to discuss the findings and most importantly, what we can do with this information.
We have a range of additional responsibilities in school including Worship Committee, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and Buddies.
Each child also contributes their ideas to their own class charter. This sets rules for classroom conduct and establishes the standards of behaviour children can expect from each other over the year. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through pupil conferences and through our pupil questionnaire.
Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are reinforced throughout our regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through daily Acts of Worship. Children 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. Our school and class rules, rewards and sanctions, which are displayed in all classrooms and referred to regularly and consistently upheld are a practical example of this. We have links with police, ambulance and fire services who help reinforce this. They visit classes as part of the learning planned. Y5/6 also take part in Wiltshire’s Junior Good Citizen scheme which educates the children about situations which can end up causing injuries or accidents, encourage them to respond appropriately to emergency situations and highlights the contribution that they can make to creating safer communities by being ‘good citizens.’
Individual Liberty
Within our school, children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young children to take risks and to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of learning challenge, how they record their learning, lunch options, participation in extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, children are given the freedom to make choices and make decisions.
Mutual Respect
As a Church of England School, 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. Respect is reinforced through our Behaviour Policy, school and class rules.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
We place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. Collective Worship is regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforce this. Each year the children explore a world faith alongside their learning about Christianity. By the time they leave us, all children have learnt about the beliefs and practices of people of the following world faiths; Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.
Curriculum
Our curriculum promotes respect, tolerance, diversity and British Values.