In November 2014, the Department for Education published guidance on promoting British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.
The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. At St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School these values are promoted and reinforced regularly, through staff training and throughout the curriculum.
Democracy
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. Pupil questionnaires are regularly completed in which the children are able to put forward their views about relevant issues and these are shared with staff. Pupils have opportunities to participate in elections and select individuals for a variety of different positions held within the school. (i.e. School Parliament, Class representatives, Health & Safety Officers, Green Team, Librarians, Lunch time buddies.
Individual Liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment and the school educate and provide boundaries for children to make good choices. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms. They are provided with advice on how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety workshops and various themed days and visits, i.e. anti-racist workshops. Pupils are provided with many opportunities to make independent choices, use of resources, participation in extra-curricular clubs, voting for pupils to represent them and raise issues they wish to change or develop in the school, meeting governors and local councillors who represent them.
The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced. 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. All children are aware of our school rules and expectations for behaviour and as a result behaviour is a key strength across the school. Visits from the Police, Fire Service etc. are embedded in our practice and help reinforce this message.
Mutual Respect
As a Catholic faith community, mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviour has an impact on themselves and others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect as we actively encourage children to live out our Mission Statement of “To Love One Another” in everything we do. This is promoted through staff modelling the behaviour, RE lessons, assemblies, prayer services and links and visits from our parish priest.
Tolerance of those with different Faiths And Beliefs
The local area surrounding St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School is socially, ethnically and culturally diverse as situated in the borough of Islington. As a Catholic school we are very aware of the importance of promoting respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs with visits and study of other faith groups through our RE curriculum eg. Judaism and Islam to reflect two of the larger faith groups within the local area. This diversity of faith is also reflected in our staff members who are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. In our library we also provide reading material on other faiths.
At St Peter and St Paul, we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views. All staff complete Prevent training annually and the Headteacher is the Catholic representative on the Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (SACRE) board meeting council, religious and teaching representatives termly.
