Promoting British Values
British Values
In 2013 the Department for Education said:
"Keeping our children safe and ensuring schools prepare them for life in modern Britain could not be more important. This change is an important step towards ensuring we have a strong legal basis for intervening in those schools where this is an issue. The vast majority of schools already promote British values. This is about making sure that we have the tools we need to intervene if children are being let down."
Schools are required to actively promote and not undermine "British Values." The government has set out its definition of British Values as:
- democracy
- the rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect
- tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
These values are taught through Religious Education (RE) and through our expectations, behaviour policy and approach to nurture. We also teach British Values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.
The school takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through daily collective worship and whole school systems and structure such as behaviour awards, charitable fundraising events, and individual pupil led initiatives and electing and running a successful School Council and Faith Ambassadors.
We promote the gospel values explicitly through interpretation of the Jesuit Virtues tree- this allows for individual discussion and reflection on specific values and virtues which our teaching and belief value, eg, respect, attentiveness, compassion and trust.
At St Teresa's Catholic Primary school these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
Democracy - what do we do ?
- Provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services.
- Teach pupils how they can influence decision making through the democratic process
- Encourage pupils to become involved in decision making processes and ensure they are listened to in school - this is achieved through our pastoral provision and School Council
- Hold class debates so that pupils learn how to argue and defend points of view
- Help and encourage pupils to express their views
- Enable pupils to have their voices heard through our School Council and Pupil Voice questionnaires
- The elections of House Captains, as well as school Council members are based solely on pupil votes.
The school’s elected parent governors are Mrs R. Suman and Miss C. Douglas.
Individual Liberty
Individual Liberty - what do we do ?
- Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self confidence
- Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights
- Model freedom of speech through pupil participation
- Challenge stereotypes
- Implement an anti-bullying culture
- Encourage pupils to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment
- Educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education
- Teach pupils to understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise them how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety lessons
- Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
- As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education.
- Pupils 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 be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Year 6 learned about being good digital citizens! Click the cartoon to find out more!
The Rule of Law
Rule of Law - what do we do ?
- Ensure that school rules and expectations are clear and fair
- 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
- The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced on a daily basis, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.
- Pupils 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.
- The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.
- Pupils 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.
- Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message
Mutual Respect
Mutual Respect-what do we do?
Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. This is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy and mission statement.
On Friday 23rd October - Year 6 led an awesome British Values assembly . The assembly included a number of rousing patriotic songs and an appearance by the Queen and other various stars! Click the picture to find out more!
Tolerance
Respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
- Promote respect for individual differences
- 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 have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE
- Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life
- Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
- Organise visits to places of worship
- Develop critical personal thinking skills
- Discuss differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, and gender and differences of family situations
We value the diverse ethnic backgrounds of all pupils and families and undertake a variety of events and lessons to celebrate these. We have found this approach to be enriching for all parties as it teaches tolerance and respect for the differences in our community and the wider world. Underpinning all of this are a range of curriculum topics which have strong links to the British Empire.
Year 6 explored the value of being grateful and generous by looking at the teachings and values of world faiths
Black History Month
For Black History month Year 6 children completed work on many black heroes past and present.
On 24th October, which is United Nations Day, or as close as possible to that date, children may come to school wearing their own clothes, ideally including colours reflecting their families origins.
Children whose families come from two or more countries can choose a selection of their colours. Children are also welcome to come in their national dress if they wish.
Butlers Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, B20 2NY
0121 554 9581
enquiry@stteresa.bham.sch.uk