Fundamental British Values
Our country, our county, our village, our school:
these things they are sacred, and we are the tools.
To be used for the future, to build and to plan
a nation that’s great, thanks to God and St Anne’s.
The final verse of our school song, ‘Per fidem ad astra'
At St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, we link Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching with British Values to help pupils become responsible, caring citizens. Through our curriculum and Celebrations of the Word, we teach the values of Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs.
Democracy
Democracy is central to our school. Here are some of the ways we promote democracy:
- Teaching children how they can influence decision making through the democratic process, for example, by voting for school councillors.
- Enabling children to have their voices heard in a variety of ways, for example, through our school council.
- Holding class debates as part of our curriculum, so that children learn how to argue and defend points of view.
- Visiting the Houses of Parliament to see first hand democracy in action.
The Rule of Law
We consistently reinforce the importance of laws, whether in class, school, or the country. Children learn why laws exist and how we can be responsible citizens. Here are some of the things we do to promote the rule of law:
- Learning about the Ten Commandments and how Christian values have influenced the rule of law in Britain and across the world.
- Ensuring that school rules and expectations are clear and fair; pupils are involved in writing class rules.
- Children 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.
- Helping children to distinguish right from wrong and taking responsibility for their actions.
- Children are taught about the importance of saying sorry and forgiving others.
Individual Liberty
At St Anne’s, children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Here are some of the things we do to promote individual liberty:
- Supporting children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Modelling freedom of speech through participation in class discussions.
- Providing children with the opportunities to reflect on and celebrate their individual talents.
- Implementing a strong anti-bullying and anti-prejudice culture.
- Children choosing their activity, where appropriate.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
Mutual respect and understanding are at the heart of Gospel values. All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect, which is a core school value. Prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour is always challenged and addressed. Here are some of the things we do to promote mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs:
- Helping children to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.
- Teaching about world faiths, including Judaism and Islam, through our RE curriculum (Day by Day).
- Discussing differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, and gender and differences of family situations.
- Celebrating differences through Celebrations of the Word on British values.
- Using charity work as an opportunity to learn about and support different cultures, for example Operation Christmas Child.