British Values at St Joseph's

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary school we take seriously our responsibility to prepare children for life in Modern Britain. Our Catholic Education is rooted in the Gospel values of love for one another, respect and justice.

We ensure that fundamental British values (democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs) are introduced, discussed and lived through our Catholic values based curriculum which underpins our ethos throughout the school. In all areas of the curriculum, we aim to take opportunities to deepen and develop understanding of British Values. We aim for children and staff alike to embrace and live these concepts within St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and demonstrate a good understanding of these values in their own lives.

The examples that follow are an indication of some of the many ways we seek to embed British Values at St Joseph’s School and should be seen as an indication of our approach rather than an exhaustive list.

Democracy

We have a school council with pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 meeting regularly to discuss issues. Every child on the school council is voted by their class. Through our curriculum children are taught about, and encouraged to respect, public institutions and services.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, is consistently reinforced at St Joseph’s School. Pupils are taught from an early age the rules of the school. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and the Fire Service help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

At St Joseph’s, pupils are actively encouraged to make independent choices, knowing that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights responsibilities and personal freedoms. They are shown how to do this, for example, through e-safety awareness or PSHE lessons. St Joseph’s School has an anti-bullying culture, and behaviour and safety policies are in place.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is one of our values. The school promotes respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning environments. In line with our commitment to democracy, students are encouraged to voice their opinions in an environment where they can debate ideas. We encourage students to substantiate opinions and to realise the value of co-operation. We do this through a weekly News Round session, giving children the Opportunity to discuss local and global events. Our emphasis on fairness and justice means that we ask our students to ensure that they look out for those who might be marginalised and disadvantaged.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Pupils develop understanding of their own beliefs and their place in a culturally diverse society. Explored in the context of our Catholic community, we educate children to understand how Christ’s teachings and example guide us now to embrace diversity, deepening their understanding of faiths and beliefs different to their own.