Promoting Fundamental British Values
Promoting British Values
We agree with the Department for Education’s five part definition of British Values:
• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Our school mission statement is:
Newchurch will give every child a flying start by working in partnership with parents, staff and the community to develop well-rounded citizens who will contribute in a positive way to society.
We believe it is incredibly important that these British Values permeate through every school in the country. At Newchurch the children will encounter these values throughout our everyday school life and the wider curriculum. Below is just a snap shot of how we promote these values in our school community:
Democracy:
Pupil voice plays a big part in life at Newchurch. Our pupil elected School Council, play a strong role in our school. They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making Newchurch a better place to learn. Pupils have input in their learning and what they would like to learn which promotes pupil voice. For example, the pupils decide as a class how they would like to learn certain skills in subjects and this is used to inform the teacher’s planning. Pupil questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. We know that the formation of the school council and the active participation of our pupils will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.
The Rule of Law:
Our pupils will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. We want our pupils to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the community or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to. This understanding of the importance of rules will be consistently reinforced through assemblies and our curriculum. The involvement of our pupils in the creation of the class rules helps them to understand the reasons behind rules and the consequences if rules are broken. Within our PSHE lessons, we allow opportunity to debate and discuss the reasons for laws and rules so children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community including police, the fire brigade and many more. We believe that clear explanations and real life stories emphasise the importance of the Rule of Law for our pupils.
Individual Liberty:
We invest a lot of time in creating a positive culture at Newchurch, so children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. We enable the children make choices about their learning. We offer a range of clubs which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our E-Safety and PSHE sessions, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. At Newchurch we believe that valuing choice and freedom in daily school life will foster a value for individual liberty as the children embark upon their adult lives.
Mutual Respect:
One of the six core values we promote at Newchurch is ‘Respect’. This, along with Resilience, Resourcefulness, Reciprocity, Reflectiveness and Responsibility, enables the promote and develop the children’s understanding of mutual respect for their peers, adults and people in the community. These values are literally at the core of everything we do at Newchurch.
Teaching and learning involves the use of a range of cooperative learning structures whereby they will work with learning partners as well as in teams to complete tasks.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs:
At Newchurch we respect and celebrate diversity in our school community. Whilst a large percentage of our children are white British, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. Parents and leaders of different faiths are welcomed to the school to share their beliefs, while we also visit numerous places of worship. At Newchurch we strongly believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.