British Values
Promoting British values through our ethos, the curriculum, our personal, social, emotional and cultural development, and through our Church of England Religious Education curriculum.
Reinforcing values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.
The DfE have reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”
Department for Education
The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these were reiterated in 2014.
At The Whitchurch C of E Federation we reinforce and promote British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance in the following ways:
Democracy
Individual Liberty
Rule of Law
Mutual Respect
Tolerance
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN
It is important that children feel part of the Academy community and that their opinions and ideas are valued.
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard and there are a number of varied roles such as Playground Leaders, School Council, Pupil Parliament, House Captains. Pupil’s voices are heard through regular meetings. The elected pupils discuss issues and suggest ways to improve the life of the Federation and how we can contribute to the local community.
Children discuss and decide which charities and fundraisers the school should support for the year, and coordinate with the organisation of these events.
Within our Academy, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As an academy we educate and provide boundaries for children to make choices safely. There is also a wide range of children who have Buddy duties within school. Through our curricular clubs and opportunities, children are given the freedom to make choices.
Our Academy ethos outlines our determination to prepare children for the ‘wider community’. 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 advised as to how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the academy, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout our academy 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 Search and Rescue, NSPCC, Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message. Circle time and PSHE is used as an opportunity to discuss difficult situations that benefit from whole class discussion. Keeping safe when using the internet is regularly discussed with children in computing lessons and in assemblies.
Knowing, understanding and following our school rules is essential for our academy to be a safe learning environment. Assemblies, Worship and PSHE times are delivered with a focus on the law e.g. safety Awareness and E-Safety awareness. Parent workshops are offered to support parents on the law around E-Safety.
Pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community should treat each other with respect.
Our R.E curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. At The Whitchurch Church of England Academy Christian values are at the core of our community and is embraced through our teachings.
Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our PSHE Programme is delivered through a cross curricular approach.
Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.
We believe our academy to be at the centre of our local community; our vision and values are embodied in celebrations and events such as inter-generational work, the school fair, our charitable work and participation in various sporting, academic and artistic endeavours.
Democracy
Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at The Whitchurch Church of England Federation.
Through our clear and positive Behaviour Policy, we develop our children’s understanding of the importance of following rules; that they keep us and those around us safe. Children’s self-regulation and understanding that their behaviour affects others and may have consequences is also a crucial part of learning across our Federation.
We give the children lots of small roles with responsibility through the Federation, for example, Class VIP, Junior Librarians, Worship Leaders and this helps them feel a sense of pride and self-worth; which reinforces an understanding of what is ‘the right thing to do.’
Visits from community partners such as the police and fire service also help to develop our children’s understanding of roles within society.
Rule of Law
Individual Liberty
At The Whitchurch Church of England Federation, children are given the freedom to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons.
Children learn boundaries and how to take ‘safe risks’ through our outdoor learning curriculum.
They are supported to develop self-knowledge, self-confidence and resilience to cope with set-backs.
The RE, Collective Worship and PSHE curriculum reinforce opportunities to explore views and opinions.
Individual Liberty
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of others
The Federation has a very strong inclusive ethos of care and respect developed around an explicit commitment to Christian values. Self-respect and respect for others form a core part of our value system.
We recognise that, although our Federation has a Christian foundation, some of our children come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including children from other faith communities. It is the Federation’s aim to provide for children an atmosphere, practice and education in which their spiritual life and experience will develop.
The gifts of ‘Respect, Kindness, Honesty, Trust and Peace’ are the values we hope and aspire that our children will foster during their time at our infant academy. As our children continue their learning journey through our junior academy, we focus on the additional values of ‘Courage, Responsibility, Creativity, Perseverance and Compassion’.
All members of the school community treat each other with respect. Through our Religious Education curriculum, we promote tolerance and understanding of a range of faiths, religions and cultures. As a Church school we promote this tolerance and understanding through our Christian values and our daily acts of Collective Worship. ‘Talk Partners’ develop our children’s capacity to actively listen to the ideas and opinions of others. Children develop fair play through our PE curriculum.