British Values
British Values & SMSC
The school actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values are exemplified in our curriculum, through collective worship and through our core values which determine how we lead our lives in school and how we prepare children for their role in society.
The Government set out its definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these values have been reiterated in 2014. At St David’s School these values are reinforced in the following ways:
Democracy
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class meetings, members were elected democratically by their classmates. The school council make decisions on how to raise money for a number of charities, it plans celebrations and festivities and helps to resolve issues. The school council works hard to make improvements that will ensure St David's is a happy school for everyone.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class/school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and also through Collective Worship or assembly.
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 agencies such as the Fire Service and the Police help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty
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 voice their opinions through debate, but they are also able to reflect on their learning and the teaching in their classes during one-to-one and small group pupil conferencing sessions with school staff.
Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through E-Safety lessons. Training by CEOPS in internet safety is a key aspect of this.
As pupils move through the school, they are given more responsibilities and freedoms.
Pupils contribute to class rules every year. Many pupils apply for leadership responsibilities in the school and these roles encourage independence.
Whether it be through making good choices in responding to learning challenges or in participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect
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. Pupils are aware that there is no distinction in the level of respect that they should show to different people. Visitors to the school often comment on the level of respect shown to them.
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs
St David’s is a culturally diverse inner city school. Many of the children who join our school are learning English as a second, or additional, language. We are proud of this rich cultural diversity, and new pupils are warmly welcomed and embraced. Assemblies promote the cultural diversity of our school through celebrations of world faiths and stories from a range of cultures. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge and experiences to enhance learning both in Collective Worship and in classes.