Promoting British Values
The Department for Education 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.”
At St John’s we very much believe these values are aligned to our Christian ethos and our school values and that these are modelled and celebrated regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy is very much in action with our elected Members of pupil Parliament (MPPs) who sit with both the Head teacher and Chair of Governors. We also have a school council which meets every month with a teacher to discuss issues raised. Both bodies are genuinely able to effect change within the school. We are promoting both these bodies with all pupils so they are seen as a democratic conduit to improving the school through pupil voice.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at St John’s. Pupils are taught from Reception the rule of the school and the affect that has on all areas of school life. Our school values are also spoken about in a positive way and modelled all the way through the school community.
At St John’s, pupils are actively empowered to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an open atmosphere. 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 Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) lessons and workshops.
Mutual respect is at the heart of our ethos and reflected in our one school rule; “Love One Another” . Mutual respect is developed during PSHE, class circle times, RE and Collective Worship. These values are also modelled by adults at all times. Children are encouraged to discuss issues and problems, understand the consequences of their actions on others and give solutions to problems that benefit the whole school community. 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.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
St John’s is a diverse school and we actively celebrate diversity through positive discussions of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education lessons and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Our multicultural activities illustrate our commitment to exploring our diverse school community. Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. The children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.
At St John’s we are proud of our ethos and values. We will nurture British values with our children through living out our Golden Rule, developing and nurturing positive relationships and modelling and encouraging them through our daily actions and interactions with others.