British Values

The Government set out its initial definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and supplemented this with additional guidance in November 2014. Publishing the guidance Lord Nash said:

“We want every school to promote the basic British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs.”

A key part of our plan for education is to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background. This ensures young people understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

The table below is an indication of where we can find evidence to show that these values are an intrinsic part of school life at St Mary and St Thomas.

Value Evidence
Democracy
  • Mission Statement
  • School Council Minutes

Our active school council is a body of children that have been voted for by their peers to represent the pupil’s views about the school. It comprises of two children from each class, from year 2 up to Year 6. Elections are held each September, and the children hold their post for a year. In their regular meetings they come up with fund raising ideas for both school fund and charities, school improvement plans and other school events. They are also involved in the interview process for school staff recruitment.

The Rule of Law
  • Mission Statement
  • Behaviour Policy
  • Display of class rules in each room
  • Playground rules (displayed on the walls around each Key Stage playground)

School rules:?School has a generic set of rules that each child is expected to follow, based upon our Christian values of Hope, Independence, Resilience, Confidence, Compassion, Trust and Forgiveness. In addition each class decides upon its own class rules for the year in September; these rules are displayed in each class along with the Christian Values of the school.

J.R.S.O.’s: School has two JRSO’s and two deputy JRSO’s who are responsible for helping the children understand about Road safety and rules of the road. These children will meet with council officers to undertake training and then present assemblies to the rest of the school to cascade their knowledge and understanding.

Individual Liberty
  • Mission Statement
  • Behaviour Policy
  • P.S.H.E. Policy
  • Christian Distinctiveness Policy
  • Displays of children’s activities outside each classroom
  • SMSC scrap books (in each classroom)

P4C and PSHE are used to teach Social and Emotional and Behavioural skills throughout the school. Collective worship is used to both explore and support the school’s Christian values. By teaching the children how to manage and understand their emotions they will be motivated and equipped to:

  • be effective and successful learners
  • make and sustain friendships
  • deal with and resolve conflict effectively and fairly
  • solve problems with others or by themselves
  • manage strong feelings such as frustration, anger and anxiety
  • be able to promote calm and optimistic states that promote the achievement of goals
  • recover from setbacks and persist in the face of difficulties;
  • work and play co-operatively
  • compete fairly and win and lose with dignity and respect for all competitors
  • recognise and stand up for their rights and the rights of others
  • understand and value the differences and commonalities between people, respecting the right of others to have beliefs and values different to their own
  • To respect and value our world, and the things, both material and alive that exist within it

Every other week the school council helps to choose a Christian Value, which becomes the focus of the children, they also collect the name of a child who has exhibited this value each week and record it in a book.

Mutual Respect
  • Mission Statement
  • Behaviour Policy
  • P.S.H.E. policy
  • Christian Distinctiveness Policy
  • Displays of children’s activities outside each classroom
  • SMSC scrap books (in each classroom)
  • Reflection areas in each classroom
  • Christian Value boxes

?We all have high expectations of achievement and behaviour. Children and staff are polite and kind. We believe that everyone has their own special gifts and we are expected to use them.

All members of the school family are equally valued.

Our teachers make lessons enjoyable and interesting and everybody is expected to do their best and respect others.

Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs
  • Mission Statement
  • P.S.H.E. Policy
  • R.E. Policy
  • Christian Distinctiveness Policy
  • Worship records
  • Alternative faith work as part of R.E.

Daily worship reflects and teaches the children about tolerance for different faiths and beliefs.

Activities within school support both children and adults of different or no faith, the children are taught respect and tolerance of these groups and the opinions and feelings of the groups are taken into account with all activities.

At St Mary & St Thomas, we use the Jigsaw scheme of work across the school to deliver our PSHE curriculum.Included in the Jigsaw scheme of work, are a number of key objectives which help to promote the fundamental British values of:

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

The link below outlines how the Jigsaw programme meets each of the five strands of British values across each Year group and 'puzzle' (theme).

Jigsaw links to British Values