British Values

"My dream would be a multicultural society, one that is diverse and where every man, woman and child are treated equally.  I dream of a world where all people of all races work together in harmony." Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)  was a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, and statesman who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election.

At St Thomas’ CE Primary we uphold and teach about British Values within the framework of our whole Curriculum.  These values are integral to our vision and day to day life at school. They are also reinforced in whole school Worship and through timetabled sessions within our broad and balanced curriculum.

In accordance with The Department for Education requirements, we actively promote British Values in our school to ensure young people leave St Thomas’ prepared for life in modern Britain. Children are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

 The Key British Values are:

• democracy
• rule of law
• individual liberty
• mutual respect
• tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

 We actively promote British values through focusing on and showing how the school’s work is effective in securing these values and we challenge children, staff, visitors or parents who express opinions contrary to British values.

Democracy – what do we do?

• Class voting for the election of pupil leaders across school at the start of the year: School Councillors, Shine Councillors, Eco Councillors
• Teach children how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process, through the School Council
• Encourage children to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school
• Provide children with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services
• Classes create rules which emphasise the importance of pupil voice and everyone being heard equally
• Teach children about rights and responsibilities as part of our PSHE curriculum - this is progressive throughout school
• Help children to express their views through encouraging and sharing of viewpoints during worship, class worship and in all teaching and learning
• Question, challenge and model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged
• Encourage children to be pro-active in their responses and challenge injustice locally and globally

Rule of law – what do we do?

• Ensure that our Christian Values, our four simple school rules and our behaviour expectations are at the foundation of all we do ensuring that all expectations are shared and clear
• Implement our behaviour expectations with consistency, fairness, empathy and understanding
• Celebrate children who demonstrate Christian Values and good behaviour and work through the celebration assembly
• Help pupils to know, recognise and understand the difference between right from wrong
• Help pupils to respect the school rules and the law and the basis on which it is made
• Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals
• Explore within our PSHE/ RSE lessons what to do if peer pressure is trying to persuade children to break these

Individual liberty – what do we do?

• Through our PSHE/ RSE lessons we support children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem, self-confidence
• Encourage children to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights
• Encourage children to take responsibility for their learning 
• Support children’s emotional regulation and independence
• Develop children's understanding of their right to free speech
• Challenge stereotypes
• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture
• Teach online safety to all children and ensure that parents and staff are aware of the risks. Staff receive training in this area. 

Mutual Respect and tolerance of different cultures and religions– what do we do?

• Through our worship, and class discussions we explore positive role models who reflect the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act
• Staff receive training on equality, diversity, representation and the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act
• Ensure that the resources and books shared in our school curriculum, and in our classrooms and across the school are representative of all children so that children are able to find themselves in a book
• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
• Organise visits to, or visitors from, a range of places of worship
• We share and celebrate different religious festivals across the year including Diwali, Eid, Holi, Hannukah, Pongal, Sukkot, Christmas and more
• Our RE work ensures that our children have a good understanding of a range of religious beliefs, traditions and customs and we celebrate those of our the children in school
• Through the rich curriculum we offer, children acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life
• Children are encouraged to positively challenge one another and each other’s ideas and resolve or accept differences in a positive manner

At St Thomas’ we  help our pupils to flourish academically and encourage their wider development: spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, so that they are fully prepared for life in British society and for their role as responsible citizens. The promotion of ‘British Values’ is central to our education.