British Values
Promoting British Values at St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School
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.'
The Government set out its definition of British values in the Prevent Strategy, and the values were reiterated.
The promotion of ‘British values' is central to Catholic education because British values have their origin in the Christian values of our nation.
"We are proud that Catholic schools promote values that are both Catholic and British, including: respect for the individual, democracy, individual liberty, respect, tolerance and inclusiveness. Our schools promote cohesion by serving more ethnically diverse and poorer communities. Catholic schools provide high standards of education which are popular with parents from all social, economic and faith backgrounds.” Paul Barber (Catholic Education Service).
St Mary Star of the Sea is a Catholic School which seeks to live out the values of Jesus Christ. We promote these values by our words and deeds, and Catholic doctrine and practice therefore permeates every aspect of the school's activity. We provide a Catholic curriculum, which is broad and balanced, recognising that every pupil is unique and is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Our curriculum is designed to enable every pupil to discern their vocation and to be well-equipped to follow it as active citizens in service to the world. Catholic Religious education is the ‘core of the curriculum' (Pope St John Paul II) and the foundation of the entire educational process. We also provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities and strong pastoral support. We incorporate democratic principles, value the rule of law, support individual liberty and foster a community in which different faiths and beliefs are respected. These values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
St Mary Star of the Sea is a UNICEF Rights Respecting School. Each year, the children decide upon their class charter and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the charter.
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council, members of the International Pupil Council, a Steering Group, Eco Council and School Ambassadors. These children, along with House Captains, are voted in by the school community.
Our MP, Amber Rudd, has visited our school on several occasions and our children also have the opportunity to visit Parliament in Year 6.
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 young 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. Through choices of learning challenge, how they record information and the participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
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 regular school days. As a Catholic School, the rules of the Church and God (the Ten Commandments) are taught through our RE curriculum and the Gospel Values underpin everything we do.
Children are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Alongside our school and class charters, we have a clear behaviour policy that is explained to all.
Visits from authorities such as the local Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
Mutual Respect
As a Catholic School and a Rights Respecting School, mutual respect is at the heart of our values and our inclusive Mission Statement is at the heart of all we do. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect and we have an effective anti-bullying policy.
Through RE, it is emphasised that every person is unique and ‘created in the image of God'.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Religious Education provides pupils with a deep understanding of their own faith as well as awareness of the faith and traditions of other religious communities. St Mary Star of the Sea is a culturally diverse school and through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures, we have a strong commitment to our diverse school community. Our RE and RRSA teaching reinforce this. This helps us to not only value our local community but also to help the children become responsible global citizens.