Croft Primary School

Croft Primary School
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British Values

British values at Croft Primary School

Schools have a duty 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.'

Democracy                   

Democracy means ‘rule by the people’. As we can’t all rule, we choose people to represent us and our ideas. We elect who we would like to represent us through free and fair elections. Their job is to protect the human rights of all citizens, depend on laws which apply equally to all citizens and encourage citizens to participate in politics and community life.

At Croft, there are lots of opportunities for our voices to be heard. Our school council is made up of class councillors via a class vote, reflecting the British electoral system. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We encourage pupils to take ownership of their own learning and progress.

Parents’ opinions are welcomed at Croft Primary School through methods such as questionnaires, and opportunities to consult on school policy i.e. Sex and Relationships Education.

 

Rule of Law           

Rule of Law means that all people have to live by the same rules and laws which are fairly applied to everyone.

At Croft, the importance of rules and laws are regularly referred to and reinforced within the curriculum, including assemblies, and when reflecting on behaviour in and around school. Each class has a class charter that is created collaboratively and reflects our ‘Good to be green’ behaviour policy.

The values and reasons behind laws, our responsibility for upholding them and the consequences of breaking them are reinforced in various ways: visits from authorities including the local police; cycle proficiency lessons which enable children to understand the rules of the road and the potential dangers encountered should they break those rules; participation in the D.A.R.T. programme; and railway safety from National Rail.

 

Individual Liberty              

Liberty means being free from oppression or restrictions by the government or power. Individual liberty means that we have rights. We have rights to: an education, be safe, respect for our family and private life, protection from discrimination, freedom from slavery and to have our own thought opinions, beliefs and religion.

Alongside rules and laws, at Croft we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment, we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely

Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our PSHE Matters lessons. Collective worship is used to both explore and support the school’s values. By teaching the children how to manage and understand emotions, they will be motivated and equipped to be effective and successful learners, make and sustain friendships, deal with and resolve conflict evenly and fairly,  solve problems with others by themselves and manage strong feelings such as frustration, anger or anxiety

Children in Year 5 and 6 are given key roles and responsibilities such as Sports ambassadors. Through opportunities such as our extra-curricular clubs, competitive sport and residential trips, pupils are given the freedom to make safe choices.

 

Mutual respect and tolerance  

When we respect others, we show them how much we value them. We listen to their ideas and beliefs and give value to them, even if we disagree. To hurt other people's feelings doesn’t show respect. Being tolerant, or behaving with tolerance, means to accept other people’s differences. Tolerance means showing respect for other people’s: race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation and opinions.

At Croft, our pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have. All members of the school community are encouraged to treat each other with respect. We demonstrate awareness and appreciation of other cultures: in English, thorough fiction, and in art and music, by considering cultures from other parts of the world.

We celebrate cultural differences through assemblies, themed weeks, musician of the month, noticeboards and displays. Children are also encouraged to share their experiences when celebrating their own faith.