British Values

 

St John’s Catholic Primary school actively seeks to promote and uphold British values through its ethos, curriculum, liturgy and assemblies, aiming to educate and engage with pupils about equality, human rights and inclusion in a positive and pro-active way.

The Government set out its definition of British Values in the Prevent Strategy 2011 as part of its overall counter- terrorism strategy, CONTEST. The introduction of Part 5 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 gives the Prevent strategy legal status in schools and colleges in England and Wales. In guidance for maintained schools, issued by the Department for Education in November 2014, ‘Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools: Departmental advice for maintained schools’, a list was provided that describes the understanding and knowledge expected of pupils as a result of schools promoting fundamental British values.

These were:

• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
• an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety;
• an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence;
• an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
• an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour; and
• an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.

At St John’s, these values are promoted in the following ways:

Democracy

 

• Having a school council and allowing pupils to elect their school councilors by holding elections
• Highlighting the development of democratic ideas in history and PSHE lessons
• Ensuring all pupils are listened to by adults
• Inviting speakers to the school
• Learning about our political system and those in other parts of the world
• Annual pupil questionnaires

The Rule of Law

• Classes creating their own “class rules” at the start of the year
• Having a clear behaviour policy that is explained to all
• Organising visits from the police service to reinforce the message of right and wrong and to teach about online safety
• Highlighting the rules of the Church in the RE curriculum and in other religion

Individual Liberty

• Students are encouraged to be independent in their learning
• Students have the opportunity to learn about and reflect on future careers (e.g. going for goals in PSHE)
• Pupils are given the opportunity to suggest and organise fundraising events
• Class debates and discussions take place in various curriculum subjects
• Opportunities for pupils to learn about their rights and personal freedoms and how to exercise these safely (e.g. e-Safety lessons and CEOP resources, PSHE lessons) and the responsibilities that these bring
• Opportunities to join a number of extra-curricular activities at lunchtimes or after school
• Opportunities to take on additional roles and responsibilities (e.g. school prefects, librarians, buddies)

Mutual respect

• Having a mission statement that is inclusive and which was written by the school community and is on display
• Constantly promoting respect for others as good manners (e.g. encouraged and commented on by visitors, comments from community events attended by our pupils such as our choir visiting nursing homes and performing at charity concerts)
• Reinforcing the value of everyone’s opinions in class debates
• Having an effective anti-bullying policy
• Emphasising in RE and PSHE lessons that every person is unique and “created in the image of God”
• Supporting charitable works (e.g. fundraising events held each term for charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support, CAFOD, Save the Children, CHAT, Children in Need, Sports Relief)

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

• Religious Education provides pupils with a deep understanding of their own faith as well as an awareness of other faiths
• Opportunities to explore cultural celebrations through art and music