Promoting British Values
At Padstow School we provide opportunities to develop skills, attitudes and dispositions that will stand them in good stead for their future as young citizens. We promote fundamental British values for all children, and an inherent understanding of what it means to be British. The government set out their definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these were reinforced in 2014.
At Padstow School we promote the British Values through our spiritual, moral, social and cultural education which is embedded throughout our curriculum. Furthermore, these values and appropriate behaviours are modelled by staff and regularly discussed with children during school assemblies, Religious Education and PSHE.
The British Values have been identified as:
The ability to communicate is a vital skill and at Padstow School we ensure that children are given a ‘voice’ to communicate; this may be using words, objects, pictures, eye pointing or body language and/or appropriate technology. Children will have many experiences that allow them to practise their democratic understanding. In the past activities and experiences have included: voting for school councillors each year, taking part in school forums where children are instrumental in discussions about the school (e.g. behaviour), completing questionnaires regarding areas of their learning, voting for charities for which the school will raise funds and within topic such as Ancient Greece.
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 well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils 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. Classroom and playground rules, bible stories supporting values, rewards and consequences and safety workshops with external visitors all reinforce this message.
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, for example through our E-Safety, PSHE lessons and bullying and safety workshops. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, sitting places, child-initiated activities or participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs; pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. 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.
Tolerance of Different Faiths & Beliefs
Padstow School is situated in an area which is not greatly culturally diverse, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. Collective Worship assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforces this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.
At Padstow School we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.