Our vision is underpinned by our Christian beliefs. We celebrate the uniqueness of every child within our Christian community while we work to support and challenge our children. We support them to flourish and shine in all they do, preparing them for life’s journey. We build upon our Christian values of respect, trust, courage and truthfulness.
The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these values have been reiterated in 2014. The DfE 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 Terling Church of England Primary School we strive to teach British Values throughout the curriculum and in all aspects of school life. We seek to teach and nurture our pupils so that they become well rounded citizens who recognise the importance of making a positive contribution to their school, community and the world around them. We encourage a safe and friendly environment for learning and showing tolerance of religions and faiths that differ from our Christian ethos.
The Department for Education defines British Values as having 5 different elements:
Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
Mutual respect
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
These values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard.
Examples of promoting ‘Democracy’ in school
• Each class hold annual elections for ‘ pupil voice’ representatives on the school council
• Representatives for school sports and talent events are selected democratically
• The school’s head girl and head boy chosen through an election process
• Election of house captains and sports ambassadors
• Children are also invited to share their views and to make suggestions about lunchtime hot dinners.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and assemblies. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws and the consequences when laws are broken. Children are asked to identify which aspect of the school rules have been broken to ensure that this connection is made and understood.
Examples of promoting ‘The Rule of Law’ in school
• Team building across the years group following and respecting rules
• Reinforcement of school values and school ethos through whole school assemblies
• Visits from authorities, including the Police
• Visits by the school council to The Multi-school Council workshop and Essex anti-bullying event
• At playtimes and lunchtimes the prefects uphold behaviour expectations and encourage children to play responsibly
• Parental questionnaires
• Break and Lunch expectations
Individual Liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged 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 choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through E-Safety and PSHE. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record work, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Examples of promoting ‘Individual Liberty, Respect and Tolerance for these of Different Faiths’ in school
• Children are given a choice of challenge many lessons
• Children can choose to join in on a range of extra-curricular before school clubs, lunchtime clubs and after-school clubs.
• Our School Council helps to shape the future of the school
• We work closely with the community to build links and relationships
• All year groups through RE lessons
• Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in safe and supportive environment
• Responsibility for own belongings
• Standard of own work
Mutual Respect
Respect is at the heart of our Christian core values which is reinforced through our school’s vision statement. Members of the school community treat each other with respect. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on themselves and others. Our Christian values are highly visible around the school and can be seen in positive messages displayed in the corridors and classrooms. Respect is an important part of our school rules.
Examples of promoting ‘Respect for other people’ in school
• RE and PSHE lessons teach children how to be inclusive
• The core value of respect is actively promoted and modelled by all staff and forms the basis for all of our relationships
• All children have equal opportunities to take part in all school activities
• Each week we have a whole school celebration assembly that promotes our core value of respect and outstanding learning.
• We have weekly assembly ‘themes’. These themes are explored in Class Collective Worship in individual classes.
• Anti-bullying week
• Fund raising events e.g. Children in Need, McMillan Coffee Morning
• Community singing – assemblies / end of year performance
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Terling CofE Primary School is situated in an area where nearly all pupils are from a white British background, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforces this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.
Examples of promoting ‘Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs’ in school
• We teach different faiths and beliefs in our RE lessons and members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within the school e.g. visits to a Buddhist temple.
• Representatives from our village church lead assemblies.
• Whole school theme events – Stories from different religion afternoon
• Harvest, Easter and Christmas services
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