British Values Statement
Our school is committed to actively promoting British values to ensure that our pupils leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.
The government emphasises that all schools should ensure that they teach pupils about British values of:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
We take every opportunity to promote these values, and to ensure our pupils:
- Understand the democratic process and how citizens can have a say in decision making.
- Recognise the advantages of living under the rule of law and how law is essential for a safe society.
- Understand that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary and why it exists.
- Understand that the freedom to hold varying faiths and beliefs, including no religious faith, is protected in law, and that it is vital to accept people who have different faiths and beliefs without discriminating against them in any way.
- Value the importance of identifying and combatting extremism.
We promote British values both within and beyond the classroom and these values are at the heart of our ethos.
At St Mary’s we take our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain by raising standards and promoting a school ethos which is underpinned by core values linked to the 5 W’s. In order that we might have life in all its’ fullness, we ensure that the 5 W’s are lived out daily. These values support the development of the whole child as a reflective learner within a calm, caring, happy and purposeful atmosphere which promotes the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children and young people.
At St Mary’s, we extend our curriculum beyond the academic, technical or vocational and give children opportunities to develop learning further through national and international news stories that inspire them. We do this by using a weekly resource called Picture News.
Children in all classes are shown a current news story every week and are allowed to debate the issue as a while class. If they want to make a difference, they have to have the confidence to speak out. The news story is related to a British Values making it relevant and meaningful and develops links between personal, school and community values. A link to Protected Characterises is also made on a weekly basis. This exposes children to a range of current issues including political, religious, cultural, environmental, social, moral, and spiritual. It allows children to demonstrate respect and tolerance. Children often can explain how they should behave or what they should say but what better way to teach respect than if they are discussing something they actually care about.
We have signs depicting the 5 British Values on our school playground.
Here are just some of the ways our school seeks to embed the teaching of British values.
Democracy
Promoting the value of ‘democracy’ takes many forms, within the formal and informal curriculum.
Our Religious Education is at the foundation of our school and it permeates through the curriculum and life of our school. We are inspired by the Word of God and we endeavour to live in the service of each other and we bear witness to the Word of God through our actions in our daily lives using the Gospel values to guide our relationships and behaviour. We celebrate the Word of God through regular worship and liturgy.
Pupils are encouraged from an early age to see themselves as having a voice which is listened to within the school. They work within their class groups to develop their own class rules. They elect classmates to participate in the various Pupil leadership Groups. All of the Pupil Leadership groups which include, School Council, Laudato Si Team, Sports Leaders, GIFT Team, Caritas and Road Safety Ambassadors contribute significantly to the decision making processes of the school. Pupils are regularly invited to put forward their views about the school.
All pupils are involved in charity work: Macmillan Cancer Support, St Joseph’s Penny, CAFOD and many more organisations.
All young people where appropriate and consistent with their level of understanding are taught about the democratic processes that operate within the UK, including through the PSHE curriculum. We celebrate National Parliament Week biannually and invite local MP’s to school. Topical political issues such as General Elections will inform discussions in class time or at assemblies. As a result, children gain respect and understanding of how citizens can influence decision making through the democratic process and an understanding of how they can contribute positively to the lives of others.
The rule of law
God is central to everything that is done throughout our school and we recognise God is with us in every aspect of our lives. All are included as the family of St Mary’s and bear witness to our Mission Statement and ‘Rules of Law’ which informs everything that we do in our community. Adults act as role models of our school’s mission and values and are key promoters of the ethos of the school for the pupils. We are witnesses to the values of the Gospel such as reconciliation, compassion, justice, liberation, service and stewardship in every aspect of school life. We place our children at the centre of the school’s Mission which is rooted in the life of St Mary who was called to love, protect, educate and nurture Jesus from birth, through childhood and towards the fulfilment of God the Father’s purpose for him. We nurture, support and challenge the pupils to live out and to give witness to the Gospel Values in their everyday experience of school life and by developing their sense of responsibility to play their part in caring activities for good causes in the wider community. Building community within school is central to everything whilst reaching out to the wider community in service of the common good. We are witnesses to an earth care ethic and the care of all God’s creation by becoming good stewards of Creation.
Here at St Mary’s, pupils are taught about the importance of rules which protect us, and keep us safe and happy, and help us to get along with others. Through our explicit teaching, our mission, anti-bullying and Behaviour policy, pupils are encouraged in their awareness of right from wrong and their place in the world’s history. They are encouraged to see that rules are there not to restrain us but to free us to become better and happier people. Throughout all phases, pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and their own behaviour.
Through PSHE lessons, participation in anti-bullying week in November and Online Safety Day in February and informally throughout their interactions with visitors, staff and others, pupils learn about the laws of the land, and the roles of agencies such as courts and police. Furthermore, we work with a range of agencies and partners to help our pupils develop safe behaviour.
As a result, children gain an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination, including online. They are expected to show empathy towards others and learn about right and wrong. Furthermore, they develop the confidence to argue their point of view and develop an understanding of how the civil and criminal law in England protects all citizens within their communities.
Individual liberty
At St Mary’s we have a commitment to every member of our school family to ‘have life to the full’ and seek to promote ‘individual liberty’ and respect the dignity of each individual as a child of God. We cultivate an attitude of respect for each other among our whole community. We promote responsibility within the school community and consideration for others within and beyond our community. We aim to support parents in the demands of their vocation to bring up their children so that they can experience life to the full.
At St Mary’s, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices appropriate to their ability and level of understanding, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We encourage pupils in the development of their self- confidence and self-belief, and to be assertive. We reinforce the belief that we all have rights and personal freedoms, and we demonstrate how to develop and exercise these safely, including in relation to online safety through the taught and implicit curriculum.
As a result, our pupils develop a sense of their own personal freedoms, and recognise the impact they may have on others, including staff, family and peers.
Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
Through ‘Mutual Respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs’, our school is a place where we strive to make people welcome. Our mission is to create a community where we care, we pray, we work, we play… in Jesus’ way, and we are proud of our school and of our community. We aim to provide a warm welcome to pupils, staff, parishioners and visitors through our Catholic values. Through the celebration of inclusion, we aim to build mutual respect, self-esteem and a sense of community, keeping in mind the Kingdom of God.
Our school family has a strong sense of belonging. Whether it is in their classes, school or the wider community of Horwich and Bolton, children are proud of where they are from and have acceptance and compassion for the diverse communities they encounter. We aim to develop and promote the spirituality of our pupils, and this in turn influences the formation of the adults through the shared experience of all. Our parents and families are drawn to be in partnership with our school and our parish (communion).
Staff monitor carefully any indications of radicalisation and know the warning signs to look out for and the process for reporting their concerns through our Child Protection and Safeguarding policy.
Pupils have many opportunities to learn about people from different cultures and faiths including through our curriculum, World Faith Weeks, links within the community and the multicultural nature of our school family. We also encourage our young people to develop their sense of charity and care for others, locally and globally.
As a result, St Mary’s is a happy and safe environment, in which children and young people can learn and grow, and contribute much to British Society. Furthermore, there is tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions as children acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and others cultures.
D. Hayes
