British Values
At Stanton Primary School, 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 leave school fully prepared for life in a modern and diverse Britain.
We develop and actively 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’ through our school ethos, our broad and balanced curriculum, our assemblies and collective worship, and through the many curriculum enrichment activities that take place throughout the year. Our school ethos is to create a safe, caring, happy and stimulating learning environment where everyone feels valued and included in our school family. We all have PRIDE in who we are and our school values are prominent around school. We are Polite, Respectful, Independent, Determined and Enthusiastic.
Our Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) helps to give children the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to develop as confident, healthy and independent individuals. Our PSHE curriculum supports learning in emotional health and well-being, financial awareness, being responsible, difference and diversity, bullying, relationships, drug education, being healthy and being safe. Opportunities to further children’s development in PSHE are embedded throughout our curriculum. Our Religious Education (RE) curriculum recognises the valuable role RE has in the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of our children. By teaching a variety of concepts, in relation to Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism our children are better able to understand and relate to our pluralist society.
The following are just some of the ways in which we seek to reinforce British Values at our school:
Democracy
Our children are encouraged to become involved in the decision making process of the school through our school and eco councils which are made up of elected representatives from each of the year groups. Mock elections are held, giving the pupils the opportunity to argue and defend their points of view. Children have opportunities to express their view and opinions through pupil voice, showing children that their views count and their opinions are important. We encourage our children to see their role in the ‘bigger picture’ e.g. linking to part of a family, class, group, school, community etc. They participate in a range of activities that involve turn-taking, sharing, discussion and collaboration, and are encouraged to make decisions together. At Stanton, we work together to create an environment where it is safe to make mistakes, share thoughts and ideas, and to explore different options. For example, promoting forgiveness after an argument, providing opportunities to retry an activity and tolerance for the views of others.
The Rule of Law
Our school rules and expectations are clear and fair and are regularly communicated to our children. Each class negotiates its own set of rules each year. We discuss the need for rules with our children and how they should be administered fairly. For example, the need for rules to keep everyone safe and happy. Children are taught to understand their own and others’ behaviour and feelings, along with their consequences. We work together to create an environment where actions are consistently followed through and encourage and support our children to learn how to distinguish right from wrong.
Visits, including those from the local police and fire service are linked to the topics taught in school. Children are taught to respect the law and understand that living under the law helps to protect individuals.
Individual Liberty
We encourage our children to develop a positive sense of themselves and provide opportunities for them to develop their self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities. We share achievements and successes in a variety of ways and celebrate and promote independence. At Stanton, children are actively encouraged to make informed choices, knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment, and to take responsibility for their own behaviour and actions. Our children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our collective worship, Online Safety and PSHE lessons.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with Different Faith and Beliefs
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Our children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.
Stanton Primary is an inclusive school and the vast majority of our community is white. We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different cultures and our children participate in discussions and activities surrounding religious festivals such as the Nativity, Christingle, Holi, Diwali, Eid, Chinese New Year and Easter. Through RE, PSHE lessons and school assemblies, children investigate other cultures and begin to understand and respect different ways of life. These lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Our children also visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.
Staff are Prevent trained and understand how to best protect and support our children.