Our British Values Ambassadors

What do British Values look like at St. Winefride’s?

The Department for Education gives a statutory duty for all UK schools to promote and teach fundamental British Values.

At St. Winefride's, we take our responsibility to prepare our learners for life in modern Britain seriously. We value and recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever changing nature of the United Kingdom and ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the every-day work and ethos of our school’s learning community.

As well as promoting British Values during our everyday teaching and learning, at St. Winefride’s we also dedicate a day to each British Value throughout the year where we focus on that value and learn what it means.

Democracy

At St. Winefride’s, we listen to children’s and parent’s voices to enable us to always improve what we are doing. We have a school council which is made up of a member from each class, who are nominated and voted for, and a Head Boy and Head Girl who are nominated and voted for by members of staff. Their role is to communicate pupil’s voice and opinions to enable them to have their say.

We also have British Value Ambassadors who were also voted for. Their role is to aid the planning and teaching of British Values to make it interesting and fun as well as keeping an eye out for good examples of British Values being shown in school.  

Individual Liberty

Our school rules give excellent opportunities for staff to discuss the choices (both good and bad) that pupils make about their behaviour in school and is used to encourage pupils to reflect on their choices and the effect that it has on both their peers and adults. From this, the children are given opportunities to resolve conflicts effectively and fairly.

Through our E-safety lessons we teach the importance of keeping yourself safe by choosing not to share personal information online, alerting an adult if something is wrong and understanding the importance of choosing to be kind.

We weave a growth mindset approach to learning throughout our teaching and celebrate examples of effort, perseverance and mistakes at the end of each week in our Growth Mindset assemblies. Developing a growth mindset enables pupils to make decisions about and take responsibility for their own learning.

Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Our curriculum offers teaching and learning opportunities for children to explore aspects of the wider world and an appreciation of cultural diversity. RE is carefully planned to equip children with the knowledge which will enable them to understand the diverse nature of peoples beliefs. We help them to understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.

Each year group takes part in their own trip or experience to gain a wide range of knowledge and understanding:

Reception -

Year 1 - Hinduism - trip to Madir Temple

Year 2 - Sikhism - trip to Gurdwara

Year 3 - Buddism - trip to Buddah Land

Year 4 - Sikhism - trip to Gurdwara

Year 5 - Judaism - visit from a follower of Judaism

Year 6 - Islam - trip to Mosque

This year, we are also beginning to celebrate Empathy Day which occurs each year with the aim of using books as a tool to build more understanding between us all. Reading empathy-boosting stories and poems can help to challenge prejudice and build connections between us all

Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether it be class rules, school rules or laws for the country, are consistently reinforced at St. Winefride’s. Children are taught the reason for and value of laws; this includes the fact their purpose is to protect and govern us, the responsibilities that come with laws and the consequences of breaking one.

Keeping safe when using the internet is regularly discussed with children in computing lessons and on our Safer Internet Day. The school has links with authorities such as the Police and Fire Service, who regularly visit and help to reinforce the Rule of Law and how to keep safe.

We are currently working towards achieving Bronze Award as a Rights Respecting School which is helping all our children and school community understand the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child whilst helping children achieve their potential and become responsible citizens.

Mutual Respect

Mutual respect is at the heart of our ethos and values. Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others and are provided with many opportunities to develop SMSC across the curriculum. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

Through daily collective worship, RE lessons and within all we do, we strengthen our understanding of respect and how it makes the world a better place. At St. Winefride’s, we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including ‘extremist’ views.