British Values

In June 2014, David Cameron emphasised the important role that British values can play in education. Further, how well a school promotes such values is an aspect of Ofsted’s inspection process.

Although in 2014-15 this is something which is developing in its significance for schools, it is not something new at Sacred Heart RC Primary. British values are promoted in so much of what we do, not least through our faith but also during our school assemblies and Religious Education. The values are integral to our mission statement which complements British values and always has done.

As well as actively promoting British values, the opposite also applies: we would actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including ‘extremist’ views. This is in line with our Home School Agreement.

The term ‘British values’ might be slightly misleading in that these values are integral to so many countries throughout the world – they differ in no way from the values of most western European countries, for example.

Below are just a few examples of how we promote British values. The first section is a general overview; the others are specific expectations set out by Ofsted.

Being part of Britain

As a school, we value and celebrate the diverse heritages of everybody at Sacred Heart School. Alongside this, we value and celebrate being part of Britain. In general terms, this means that we celebrate traditions, such as customs in the course of the year; for example, Harvest festival during the Autumn term or our annual Christmas Nativity, and what could be more British than a trip to a pantomime around Christmas time! We also value and celebrate national events, a recent example being the Queens Jubilee.

Further, children learn about being part of Britain from different specific perspectives. Two specific examples of when we teach about being part of Britain are:

Geographically: Our curriculum, Class, Key Stage and whole school topic ensures that children have a better understanding of what Britain is, learning more about:

• its capital cities and counties, its rivers and mountains
• how ‘Great Britain’ differs from ‘England’ and ‘the United Kingdom’
• where Britain is in relation to the rest of Europe and other countries in the world

Historically: Using our school ‘Tardis’ we time travel to significant moments in British history. During these whole school topics, children learn about an aspect life and how this has developed and changed over time. The actual topic depends on the interests of the children (and teacher!), but might include inventions and discoveries, or houses, or medicine.

Democracy

Children, parents and staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard at Sacred Heart. Democracy is central to how we operate.

An obvious example is our School Council. The election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: candidates make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative, pupils vote in secret using ballot boxes etc. Made up of two representatives from each class, the School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes. The council has its own budget and is able to genuinely effect change within the school; in the past, the School Council has planned the new reading area in the playground and chosen charities to support. The Council are actively involved in recruitment and in providing teachers with feedback, such as providing a review of themed weeks.

Other examples of ‘pupil voice’ are:

• children agree their Class Charter and the rights associated with these; all children contribute to the drawing up of the charter
• Pupil Questionnaires which provide the school leadership with analysis of how the children feel about school
• Pupils respond to teachers marking throughout the school
• children nominate various charities, then within their own class, select two to go forward to the School Council, who then vote to decide two school charities which we support over the course of two years

Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.

Rules and laws

The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices. At the start of the school year, each class discusses and sets its own Class Charter, a set of principles that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.

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. These values are reinforced in different ways:

• visits from authorities such as the police and fire service
• during other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules – in a sports lesson, for example

Individual liberty

Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment and empowering education, we provide boundaries for our young pupils to make choices safely; for example:

• choices about what learning challenge or activity
• choices about how they record their learning
• choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities

Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our e-safety and PSHCE lessons.

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Sacred Heart is a Catholic school with the vast majority of children from a white British background. It is therefore important that we reach out to other schools and communities to help educate our children in the different beliefs and faiths of others. We have recently been awarded the Race Equality Mark (2014) which is testament to the hard work of our children and staff.

Our pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have, and to everything, whether it is a school resource, a religious belief or whatever. 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.

Specific examples of how we at Sacred Heart enhance pupils understanding and respect for different faiths and beliefs are:

• through Religious Education,  and other lessons where we might develop awareness and appreciation of other cultures – in English through fiction and in Art by considering culture from other parts of the world, for example
• enjoying a depth of study, where sometimes we will celebrate and enjoy learning about the differences in countries and cultures around the word (whilst at other times we might consider groups or individuals who might be vulnerable in some way, such as those with mental health issues)

Sadly, no school can guarantee that there will never be instances which are contrary to this value. At Sacred Heart, such instances are extremely rare. They are treated seriously in line with our school policies.