British Values

British Values Statement

The Department for Education states that there is a 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”.

The Department for Education defines British Values as follows:

• Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process                        
• Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England
• Support for equality of opportunity for all
• Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law
• Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs

We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and, in particular, RE, PSHE and Assemblies provide opportunities to deepen and develop understanding. We encourage our children to be creative, unique, 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.

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School, we also uphold and actively promote British values in the following ways:

Democracy
We have our own school council. All children are able to put themselves forward to their classmates. A ballot is held and pupils are voted for.

All children are encouraged to debate topics of interest, express their views and make a meaningful contribution to the running of the school on matters that directly involve pupils.

The Assistant Headteacher reports to Governors about the activities of the School Council.

Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through pupil questionnaires and pupil conferences.

The principle of democracy is explored in our curriculum as well as in assemblies.

Rule of Law
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days.

Rules and expectations are clear, fair and regularly promoted. Each class also discusses and sets its own rules that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.

Pupils are helped to distinguish right from wrong.

Pupils are helped to respect the law. They are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Pupils are helped to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.

Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service; Ambulance etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

The Behaviour and Anti-Bullying policies encourage the restorative justice process to resolve conflict.

The school has zero-tolerance for any form of aggression, abuse or violence, which extends to pupils, staff and parents/carers.

We are committed to praising children’s efforts. Children are rewarded not only for achievement in curriculum areas, but also for behaviour. Rewards are given in the form of stickers, house points and certificates. Children’s achievements are also recognised during Celebration Assemblies.

Individiual Liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged, and given the freedom to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.

For example, by signing up for extra-curricular clubs, choosing the level of challenge in some lessons and becoming increasingly more involved in child-led learning. A further example is where foundation stage children have the opportunity to choose their extended learning through adult guided child initiated play.

As a school we educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment, a planned curriculum and an empowering education.

Pupils are supported to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour, for example through through e-safety.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, e.g. through e-safety teaching and PSHE lessons.

Freedom of speech is modelled through encouraging pupil participation.

Vulnerable pupils are protected and stereotypes challenged.

A strong anti-bullying culture is embedded in the school.

Pupils have key roles and responsibilities in school e.g. Playground monitors, Library Monitors, Pupil Eco Council, Digitial Leaders and Chaplaincy.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
Respect is one of the core values of our school. This can be seen and felt in our pervading ethos in school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.

The school strongly promotes respect for individual differences.

Pupils are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.

Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

Actively promoting our values also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental values, including ‘extremist’ views.

Through the PSHE and RE curriculums pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as looked after children or young carers.  We also have two Faith Weeks during the academic year.

Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudiced-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. 

The Our Lady’s Values are clear to all students, parents/carers, staff and community through its ethos of high expectations and vision.

What are Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s Values?

Respect, Curiosity, Forgiveness, Love, Resilience and Stewardship

Students

All students have an entitlement to be provided with opportunities which allow them to achieve their potential. To ensure they make a valuable contribution as members of their community.

Staff

Demonstrate high expectations in a climate of challenge and support based upon Quality Assured accountability.

Student’s development in values is essential in raising standards of attainment for all students and developing depth beyond the academic curriculum through questioning, reflection, discussion and evaluating others viewpoints. Our Lady’s believes that insisting on high expectations and an ethos of respect are an integral part of school life. Together we respect our differences as well as celebrating and embracing our uniqueness. Everyone matters, is valued, cared for and celebrated. Every member of the school has an important positive role to play and contribution to make within the school and the community.

Our Lady’s promotes school wide values which reflect the themes of British Values:

• Democracy;
• Rule of Law;
• Individual Liberty;
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

All students are asked to respect each other, and our ethos is promoted by adults modelling behaviours and clear visual prompts.

These British Values are delivered and explored within the JIGSAW PSHE programme, which involves weekly sessions to all classes. Every half term each class focuses on a school value. 

British Values

British Values Statement

The Department for Education states that there is a 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”.

The Department for Education defines British Values as follows:

• Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process                        
• Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England
• Support for equality of opportunity for all
• Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law
• Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs

We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and, in particular, RE, PSHE and Assemblies provide opportunities to deepen and develop understanding. We encourage our children to be creative, unique, 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.

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School, we also uphold and actively promote British values in the following ways:

Democracy
We have our own school council. All children are able to put themselves forward to their classmates. A ballot is held and pupils are voted for.

All children are encouraged to debate topics of interest, express their views and make a meaningful contribution to the running of the school on matters that directly involve pupils.

The Assistant Headteacher reports to Governors about the activities of the School Council.

Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through pupil questionnaires and pupil conferences.

The principle of democracy is explored in our curriculum as well as in assemblies.

Rule of Law
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days.

Rules and expectations are clear, fair and regularly promoted. Each class also discusses and sets its own rules that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.

Pupils are helped to distinguish right from wrong.

Pupils are helped to respect the law. They are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Pupils are helped to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.

Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service; Ambulance etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

The Behaviour and Anti-Bullying policies encourage the restorative justice process to resolve conflict.

The school has zero-tolerance for any form of aggression, abuse or violence, which extends to pupils, staff and parents/carers.

We are committed to praising children’s efforts. Children are rewarded not only for achievement in curriculum areas, but also for behaviour. Rewards are given in the form of stickers, house points and certificates. Children’s achievements are also recognised during Celebration Assemblies.

Individiual Liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged, and given the freedom to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.

For example, by signing up for extra-curricular clubs, choosing the level of challenge in some lessons and becoming increasingly more involved in child-led learning. A further example is where foundation stage children have the opportunity to choose their extended learning through adult guided child initiated play.

As a school we educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment, a planned curriculum and an empowering education.

Pupils are supported to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour, for example through through e-safety.

Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, e.g. through e-safety teaching and PSHE lessons.

Freedom of speech is modelled through encouraging pupil participation.

Vulnerable pupils are protected and stereotypes challenged.

A strong anti-bullying culture is embedded in the school.

Pupils have key roles and responsibilities in school e.g. Playground monitors, Library Monitors, Pupil Eco Council, Digitial Leaders and Chaplaincy.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
Respect is one of the core values of our school. This can be seen and felt in our pervading ethos in school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.

The school strongly promotes respect for individual differences.

Pupils are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.

Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.

Actively promoting our values also means challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental values, including ‘extremist’ views.

Through the PSHE and RE curriculums pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as looked after children or young carers.  We also have two Faith Weeks during the academic year.

Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudiced-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. 

The Our Lady’s Values are clear to all students, parents/carers, staff and community through its ethos of high expectations and vision.

What are Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s Values?

Respect, Curiosity, Forgiveness, Love, Resilience and Stewardship

Students

All students have an entitlement to be provided with opportunities which allow them to achieve their potential. To ensure they make a valuable contribution as members of their community.

Staff

Demonstrate high expectations in a climate of challenge and support based upon Quality Assured accountability.

Student’s development in values is essential in raising standards of attainment for all students and developing depth beyond the academic curriculum through questioning, reflection, discussion and evaluating others viewpoints. Our Lady’s believes that insisting on high expectations and an ethos of respect are an integral part of school life. Together we respect our differences as well as celebrating and embracing our uniqueness. Everyone matters, is valued, cared for and celebrated. Every member of the school has an important positive role to play and contribution to make within the school and the community.

Our Lady’s promotes school wide values which reflect the themes of British Values:

• Democracy;
• Rule of Law;
• Individual Liberty;
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

All students are asked to respect each other, and our ethos is promoted by adults modelling behaviours and clear visual prompts.

These British Values are delivered and explored within the JIGSAW PSHE programme, which involves weekly sessions to all classes. Every half term each class focuses on a school value.