British Values
The DfE have recently 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.’
Actively promoting the values means challenging opinions or behaviours in school that are contrary to fundamental British values.
At Cookridge Holy Trinity C of E (A) Primary School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
DEMOCRACY
Every year the children decide on their class rules, which are based upon our school ‘Golden Rules’. All children are involved in the drawing up of these agreements.
The children have lots of opportunities to share their views and have a voice. There is a school council with elected members who meet to discuss issues raised in the class councils. There are also members of the ‘worship team’ who work together to improve the worship experience for all pupils.
Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with respect to each other.
THE RULE OF LAW
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those in the class, school or the country are consistently reinforced during everyday life at Cookridge Holy Trinity as well as when dealing with behaviour incidents and through school worship. The children are taught the value of and reasons for the rules and laws, the responsibilities that are involved and the consequences if these are broken.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY
At Cookridge Holy Trinity, children are actively encouraged to make choices within a safe and supportive environment. We provide boundaries and education to help the children to make choices about a range of things such as what they learn, how they learn and which extra-curricular activities they will participate in.
Through E-safety and PSHCE lessons the children are taught to exercise rights and freedoms safely.
MUTUAL RESPECT
Children at Cookridge Holy Trinity learn that we live in a country which is full of diversity. They are taught to respect and celebrate these differences, whatever they are.
RE lessons, ethos statements with memory verses and Collective Worship together with work in other areas of the curriculum highlight the differences between cultures around the world.
The children at Cookridge Holy Trinity regularly raise money to give to people who are less fortunate than themselves.
At Cookridge Holy Trinity we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.