At St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School we uphold and teach pupils about British Values which are defined as:
- democracy
- rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect
- tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
These values are taught explicitly through Personal, Social, Health and Emotional (PSHE), and Religious Education (using the Come & See programme of study). We also teach British Values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.
The school takes opportunities to actively promote British Values through daily collective worship and whole school systems and structures such as electing and running a successful School Council. We also actively promote British values through ensuring that our curriculum planning and delivery includes real opportunities for exploring these values.
We are currently registered with UNICEF and working towards achieving their accredited kite-mark, the Rights Respecting Schools Award.
At St Brigid\’s, British values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy:
Democracy is an important value at our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Councillors and members of the Pupil Leadership Team. The elections of members to both the Council and the Pupil Leadership Team are based on pupil votes.
The Rule of Law:
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced regularly throughout the school day. Our system for behaviour is aligned to an agreed set of codes and if children are given verbal warnings this is always set against the agreed behaviour policy.
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. Visits from authorities such as the police, fire service and military personnel are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
To encourage and promote good behaviour, attitude and work, we have devised a reward system which is consistently followed throughout the school.
We are committed to praising children’s efforts. We endeavour to praise the children informally, individually, during group work, in front of the whole class and the whole school. Children are rewarded not only for achievement in curriculum areas, but for behaviour, being a good role model and friend.
Rewards are given in the form of stickers, dojo points, house points and certificates. Children’s achievements are also recognised during our weekly Awards Assembly.
Individual Liberty:
Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices at our school, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our children to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and planned curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-Safety teaching. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. signing up for extra-curricular clubs.
Mutual Respect:
Christian values such as ‘respect’ and ‘responsibility’ are at the core of all we teach. These values determine how we live as a community at St Brigid’s. Collective Worship is based on ‘Christian Values for Life’ which are central to how we expect everyone to go about their life at our school.
Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
This is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity in our local community which is, by large, white British. Collective Worship and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. We make the most of relevant opportunities (such as the Olympics, Rugby & Football World Cups) to study and learn about life and culture in other countries.
We have termly World Faith Celebration Weeks during which we study another world faith and learn about their customs, practices and celebrations. We invite guest speakers and run workshops to give the children a real experience of a different belief system.
