St Brendan’s RC Primary
POLICY FOR PROMOTING BRITISH VALUES
MISSION STATEMENT
Love life,
Love learning,
Achieve together in God’s love

Overview

Through its curriculum, extra-curricular activities, teaching and learning this school will promote British values. By doing so, we will ensure that all learners understand the values that have traditionally underpinned British society. The teaching of these values will promote cohesiveness within our school and community. We will prepare pupils for life in England where the population has an increasingly rich diversity of backgrounds, origins, beliefs and cultures by promoting the values on which our society has been built. By teaching pupils these values we will help all to become good citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Objectives

1. To ensure that all develop an understanding of the values which underpin life in Britain.
2. To teach pupils to have a mutual respect and tolerance for, and an understanding of the various faiths and beliefs represented in Britain today.
3. To ensure that all learn to uphold the rule of law and support freedom, justice and equality.
4. To help all understand and value the rich diversity that other citizens from different cultures, religions and backgrounds bring to our national society.
5. To value people’s differences and respect them.
6. To develop pupils’ awareness and tolerance of communities different to their own.
7. To value democracy and to stand up for right against wrong.
8. To care for the sick, the poor, the weak and the old and treat them as valued members of our society.
9. To ensure that learners become loyal and patriotic citizens of the United Kingdom.

Strategies

1. The school will promote British values through its teaching, learning across the subjects of the curriculum to help all understand how the values have underpinned life in Britain throughout its history, geography, language, literature, sport and games, personal and social education and religions.
2. This school will teach children about the growth and development of our parliamentary democracy and its key institutions including the constitutional monarchy.
3. Learners will be taught about democracy and universal suffrage and the duty of citizens to participate in and contribute to life in Britain.
4. We will develop the skills of participation and responsible action necessary for living together in harmony as citizens of United Kingdom.
5. Pupils will learn about the democratic structures of our national government and we will promote civic pride by helping them learn and understand about local government.
6. Across the curriculum we will teach the importance of duty, loyalty and patriotism.

Outcomes

Through our work and partnerships pupils will gain a good understanding of the values that underpin the privileges, rights, responsibilities and duties of citizenship. We will equip young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding to make a positive contribution to the harmony of our local and national community. We will develop responsible young people who support and positively value community cohesion. This policy will make a key contribution to the school’s positive ethos. The Headteacher and Governing Body will assess the impact of this policy and monitor its operation. It should be viewed in conjunction with the school’s other policies especially the Equal Opportunities Policy and Behaviour Policy.

HOW WE PROMOTE BRITISH VALUES

At St Brendan’s RC Primary School, our Mission Statement has Jesus at the heart of everything we do. We live out our faith and show we care for one another by sharing our love of Jesus with everyone. As set out in our Mission Statement; ‘Love Life, Love Learning, Achieve Together in God’s Love’ and evidenced in the community we are, we seek to develop the whole person.
As a Catholic school, we encourage our children to be unique, creative, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world. We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British Society and to the world.

What are British Values?

There are certain values that have been attributed to being British, as set out by the government in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. These fall into the following broad areas:

• Democracy
• The Rule of Law
• Individual Liberty
• Tolerance & Respect

Democracy:

Democratic values are an explicit in the ethos at St. Brendan’s. All adults listen to the views of the pupils and value their opinions. Our School Council is elected through a democratic system of voting’ providing a ‘voice’ for all pupils. Pupils are given the opportunity to have their ‘voices’ heard through pupil questionnaires, the Children’s School Improvement Plan and in Year 6 through being a head boy/ head girl or a prefect.

The Rule of Law:

Pupils are taught to understand the need for laws/ rules – that they are there for individual protection, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws/ rules are broken. We have School Rules, Class Rules and Children’s Rights which all promote the importance of the law. Pupils follow a positive behaviour policy and can clearly demonstrate an understanding of the rewards and sanctions that are used. Through our assemblies, collective worship and circle time, we teach respect for all, right and wrong, tolerance, respect and following the law. Visits from community services, the Police and Fire Service are used to reinforce these messages. Pupils are shown how they can contribute to the well-being of those in the locality and beyond, through many events such as visiting the elderly and supporting charities eg Urban Outreach/CAFOD.

Individual Liberty:

Pupils are encouraged to be independent learners, constantly making choices, within a safe and supportive environment – developing their self-esteem and self-confidence is seen as very important. Pupils are encouraged to understand their personal freedoms and are taught how to use these rights to best effect. They are taught consideration for others through our R.E. curriculum and PSCHE lessons in particular. E-safety and Health & Safety teaching enables them to make choices in a safe manner. They can volunteer to be Chaplains and Reading Buddies and are involved in school clubs.

Mutual Respect:

Our school’s ethos and behaviour policy are based on Gospel values. Assemblies promote the importance of self-respect, honest and open communication with others and fair play. Pupils are taught to work collaboratively and value each other’s opinion. They work collaboratively and cooperatively with other schools through the School Linking Network.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

Pupils are reminded of their place in a culturally diverse society and this is achieved through our R.E. curriculum, the spiritual life of the school and our creative curriculum. R.E lessons teach the children about other faiths as well as their own. Assemblies and class work promote the diversity of society and the right for each person to be respected and valued equally. Members of different faiths are invited to school to share their knowledge and to enhance learning. We have an annual World Faith Day to celebrate the main religions of the world with the theme: We Grow in Faith Together.

Document history

Date	Amendments
April 2015	Original document
March 2019	Policy & how we Promote British Values at St Brendan’s combined
Each Academic Year	This policy will be reviewed in accordance with the School Development Plan.