At Carcroft School, we develop and promote British Values throughout our school and within our curriculum.
“We want every school to promote the basic British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs.” Lord Nash
A key part of our plan for education is to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.
Carcroft follows equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. We are dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces citizenship and British values to all our pupils. These 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 Expeditionary Learning, RSE and our Crew Curriculum. We also teach British Values through planning and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum. Pupils will show understanding and support towards their peers and know that their own choices affect others too. Pupils have a powerful voice within school, which is met with enthusiasm and encouragement from crew leaders to put forward new ideas and opinions. Pupils will help to facilitate action for important issues within school and be key to the decision making process, this is facilitated through our Carcroft Change Makers.
Implementation
At Carcroft School, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy:
Our curriculum embeds democracy through crew and expeditionary learning. Democracy is an important value at our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through class crews, phase crews, wider schools crews and our Carcroft Change Makers.
-Our youngest children in school are also involved in decision making. In EYFS the activities and challenges carried out by the children are rewarded – the children discuss their desired rewards and vote for these weekly.
-School behaviour policy, including our restorative approaches.
-One page profiles.
The Rule of Law:
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the crew, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days.
-Our system for behaviour is aligned to an agreed set of codes – HoWLs. Children make a stand and challenge each other.
-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 community support police officers, fire service etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
-To encourage and promote good behaviour, attitude and work ethos we explore our Habits of Work and Learning (HoWL’s) daily, these are embedded throughout the school. HoWLS / Learning Legend community meetings are held weekly to celebrate beautiful work and children who go above and beyond to strive to be the best version of themselves. .
-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 crew and the whole school crew. Children are rewarded not only for achievement in curriculum areas, but for behaviour and attitudes towards learning demonstrated through our HoWLs.
-Rewards are given in the form of HoWL stickers, postcards and certificates. Children’s achievements are also recognised during weekly community meetings.
Individual Liberty:
-Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices at our school, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
-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, lunch time clubs, athletics and PE tournaments. .
Mutual Respect:
-Respect and positive relationships is a fundamental value at Carcroft School. We insist that all crew members are treated with dignity and respect.
-This is expressed by all demonstrating good manners and fostering positive and professional relationships. Pupils learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others.
-Daily appreciations, pledges and stands ensure all members of the school community treat each other with courtesy and respect, these values underpin all teaching and learning and all relationships in our school.
-Mutual respect is explicitly taught through behaviours for learning, such as active listening and positive speaking and presentations, for example SLC and Passage Presentations.
-Our use of the restorative approaches build an understanding of the need for respectful behaviour towards all stakeholders.
-Whole school celebrations to promote respect for others outside of the school community, for example respecting elders which fought for our freedom (VE day) and The British Monarchy.
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.
-Discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by Expeditionary Learning (RE) and RSE.
-World Faith Celebrations, studying another world faith and learning 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.
Carcroft School strives to ensure that our pupils leave with the strongest foundation of values upon which to build a successful life and to make a positive and meaningful contribution to our society, through positive expression of the values of democracy, tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect.
Crew sessions foster specific British Values ideas such as social skills and taking an active part in the life of their school and community.