British Values
British Values at Cottesmore St Mary
At Cottesmore St Mary, we actively promote the fundamental British Values of:
- Democracy
- The Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
We promote and reinforce these British Values throughout the curriculum and all areas of school life. Topics and units of work are used to focus on these values in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Theme days and assemblies put these values at the heart of our school. Visitors into school and class trips enhance teaching, learning and understanding in all of these areas.
Our school also believes the teaching of SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural) to be of the upmost importance in preparing all of our children to participate fully and positively in their community, now and in the future
Children's SMSC development is promoted and embedded in our school in a variety of ways. All classes take part in EPR lessons. Topics and units of work are used to promote children's understanding in a range of areas, such as healthy lifestyles, money awareness and relationships. Themed weeks, for example, Anti-bullying and Understanding our Rights ensure all children have the opportunity to develop understanding of SMSC. Strategies such as; circle time, class worry boxes, playground buddies, give pupils a voice and enable them to share their feelings and concerns in a safe and open environment, whilst developing a mature emotional vocabulary.
We actively promote British values through our EPR curriculum, assemblies, educational celebration days, school council and our inclusive school ethos.
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Please see below for our British Values curriculum coverage:
| British Values | Opportunities for social, moral, spiritual and cultural development |
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Democracy An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process. |
• Elected School Council representatives from each class. • There are regular, planned opportunities for children to work collaboratively. • School Debate team meet to debate current topics • Children learn to debate and learn how to put forward and defend their point of view. • Pupils have the opportunity to express their views through the school council, pupil conferencing and active pupil voice through such roles as Sports Leaders and Digital leaders, Fair Trade Council and Eco Council. • Children are also encouraged and taught how to construct a fair and persuasive argument around topic themes as wide ranging as Rainforest Destruction and the Elgin Marbles. • Year 6 learn about the power of democracy through the Civil Rights Movement in America • Throughout our curriculum, children are encouraged to discuss and debate, voice their own opinions and respect others points of views • KS1 and KS2 lessons and assemblies on Democracy
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| British Values | Opportunities for social, moral, spiritual and cultural development |
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Rule of Law An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety. An understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence.
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• Classes draw up a Class Charter, which provides the moral and social framework in which children learn how to contribute in a positive manner to the safety and well-being of all members of the community. • Anti-Bullying Week - children are taught the skills to deal with children who bully and are encouraged to be ‘upstanders’ rather than ‘bystanders’. • Every year, children take the Safe at School Survey, in which have the opportunity to speak up about how safe they feel in school. The results of this are then analysed and actions are drawn up in response. • We employ Peaceful Problem Solving strategies at all times to resolve conflict and teach the children the importance of listening and empathy for others • Class expectations for conduct are agreed through group discussion at the beginning of each academic year. • The school Positive Behaviour Policy reflects British values. • Pupils are encouraged to accept responsibility for their own behaviour • Through a positive behaviour approach. • Importance is placed on laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country. • Pupils are regularly praised for their conduct and good behaviour, • Both in and out of school. • School assemblies promote good behaviour and personal conduct. • KS1 and KS2 lessons and assemblies on Rule of Law.
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| British Values | Opportunities for social, moral, spiritual and cultural development |
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Individual liberty An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected by law. |
• Pupils are encouraged to develop their self-confidence and self-knowledge through the principles of growth mind-set. • Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour. • The school implements a strong anti-bullying culture. • Weekly Celebration Assemblies celebrate effort, kindness towards others and perseverance. • Children are taught strategies to keep themselves safe and to make informed choices. • The school offers an extensive range of extra-curricular activities. • Ks1 and Ks2 lessons and assemblies on Individual Liberty. • Our school ethos and EPR teaching emphasize our freedom to be who we want to be and to be proud of who we are as long as our actions or thoughts do not hurt others. • Our school environment is safe and supportive and encourages children to express themselves. • We teach a Protective Behaviours programme to give children the skills they need to keep themselves safe. • At the start of every school year, every child creates a ‘Helping Hand’ wherein, they name 5 people who they can turn to if they feel unsafe, worried or threatened. • In EPR teaching the children learn about citizenship and being a ‘global citizen’. |
| British Values | Opportunities for social, moral, spiritual and cultural development |
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Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs An acceptance that other people with different faiths or beliefs (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudice or discriminatory behaviour. An understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.
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• Through the teaching of RE, pupils become aware that people in this country and across the world believe in many different religions, each with their own practices, places of worship, holy men, and women and festivals. • The whole school community has pride in our school uniform. • The school supports local, national and international charities. • All children participate in residential visits and school trips. • KS1 and KS2 lessons and assemblies on Mutual Respect and Tolerance. • Through our school values and our EPR teaching, pupils are taught about personal responsibility, the courage to stand up to what is right and resilience and aspiration. • We have a strong tradition of charitable support. We give to those in need: CAFOD, NSPCC, Chestnut Tree Hospice Love in a Box, Food and Money for St Anne’s Day Centre and Year 4 children make sandwiches weekly for a local homeless centre. • We celebrate Black History Month every October, when the contributions and achievements of black people are celebrated and studied across the school in classes and assemblies. • We enhance the understanding of other faiths through our RE work. Every class studies Judaism and Islam every year and classes in the school visit the local synagogue and mosque. • We are a Fair Trade school with a Fairtrade Council that meets at least once a term who make whole school decisions and ensure that learning about Fairtrade is given a high profile within their class. • In EPR, every year group studies a ‘Good to be Me’ topic and an Equalities topic with a range of foci, such as family diversity, Gypsy Roma Traveller education, disability education, gender stereotypes and discrimination. |
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