Promoting British Values at Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School 

 

As a Catholic School, we actively promote values, virtues and ethics that shape our pupils' characters and moral perspectives, through the teachings of the Church. We are confident that our continued focus on the Gospel Virtues will give our pupils the necessary awareness of what it means to be a citizen in Britain today, and embed in them the building blocks of a successful future and productive life. 

 

Through RE, Catholic Character Education, PSHE and the wider curriculum, we are able to make real links between the values of our pupils and the lives of others in our community, country and the wider world. Our curriculum includes teaching about democracy, civic responsibility, rules and laws, the monarchy, equality, values and virtues, environmental awareness and understanding of other faiths. 

 

We understand that the society within which we live is diverse and, therefore, we aim to prepare our children for life in modern Britain. Throughout day to day school life, and within our curriculum planning, we make links to social, cultural, moral and spiritual values, and in doing so, we enable our children to value and respect diversity and develop a greater tolerance and understanding of the world. 

 

We aim to create opportunities to broaden children’s understanding of the key British Values: 

• Democracy 

• Rule of Law 

• Individual Liberty 

• Mutual Respect 

• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs 

• Tradition and heritage 

 

Democracy: We actively promote and model democracy by: 

 

- Our Pupil Leadership Teams (House Captains / School Council / Play Ground Buddies / Sports’ Leaders) teach pupils how they can influence how our school community operates and become involved in the decision making process. Children have to apply for these roles within the school and take their responsibilities very seriously. 

 

Children are encouraged to respect democracy and the democratic process. 

 

- At the beginning of each year, children discuss class rules that will enable everyone to learn effectively. 

- Providing our children with a broad knowledge of and promoting respect for public institutions and services e.g. MP visits into school, visits to/from Police, Hospitals, Fire Service, Local Councillors. 

- Teaching children how they can influence decision making through the democratic process e.g. School Council, suggestion boxes. 

- Encouraging pupils to become involved in decision making processes and ensuring they are listened to in school.

- Modelling how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged e.g. by teaching about inspirational figures such as Ghandi, Mandela, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King.

 

Rule of Law: We actively promote and model the rule of law by: 

 

- Ensuring school rules are clear and fair through our consistent behaviour policy. 

- Helping children to distinguish right from wrong by using the example of Christ when dealing with behaviour that is not acceptable. 

- Promoting respect for the law and the basis on which it is made e.g. through visitors such as PCSOs, Police, local MP. 

- Helping children to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals through our RE curriculum and through focus weeks e.g. Anti-Bullying Week, visitors. 

- Having a behaviour policy that is based in the Christian value of forgiveness. 

 

 Individual Liberty: We actively promote and model individual liberty by: 

 

- Supporting pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence through: our Catholic ethos; our way of treating people; by investing heavily in meeting the needs of all of the children; by providing equality of opportunity; by knowing and understanding the needs of all of the children. 

- Encouraging pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour as well as knowing their rights through: linking rights with responsibilities; helping others through charity and outreach work and by having a fair and consistent behaviour management policy. 

- Challenging stereotypes through: visitors into school; disability awareness; anti-bullying and anti-racism learning; whole school themed assemblies.

- Implementing a strong anti-bullying culture. 

 

Respect and Tolerance: We actively promote and model respect and tolerance by: 

 

- Promoting respect for individual differences through: assemblies and masses; the RE curriculum; multicultural/multi-faith teaching through RE; living out our Catholic ethos. 

- Helping children to acquire an understanding of and respect for their own and other cultures and ways of life through International Links, Religious Education and assemblies.

- Openly discuss and celebrate the differences between people such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender and different family situations such as looked after children, young carers. 

 

British Traditions and Heritage 

 

We celebrate the role of Britain both historically and in the present. We want pupils to have knowledge of and be proud of their British heritage and the cultural and historical traditions that we are renowned for the world over. This involves celebrating Royal events, Remembrance Day, festivals such as Christmas and Easter (alongside those from other cultures such as Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year, for example). 

 

We try hard to build a culture that will stand the test of time, where our pupils can become good, effective citizens. We teach our children to respect everyone regardless of any differences and aim to ensure that this is firmly embedded into the ethos of our school.