Modern British Values Statement
Catshill First School and Nursery has a duty to actively promote Modern British Values. These values are reinforced and delivered regularly in the following ways
DEMOCRACY
Democracy is an important value at our school. We hold bi-annual elections for Sports and House Captains from Year 4 where the pupils in Key Stage 1 and 2 vote for a representative from each house. Pupils take part in campaigns, then vote in private and participate in Results Assembly.
We also run two Councils: a School Council where the members are selected by elections within each class and a Values Council with members selected by staff.
Pupil voice is important to us and pupils are regularly consulted about their responsibilities, their behaviour and their learning. Pupils at Catshill are also given the opportunity to share their voice through a Pupil Questionnaire and Pupil Interviews.
THE RULE OF LAW
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. These laws and the values behind these laws are discussed when dealing with behaviour and through class and school assemblies. Pupils are always helped to distinguish right from wrong here and on the playground.
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.
Our rewards system also encourages and rewards those that follow our School rules. Where possible, links are made to our monthly focus on different values.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY
Our Values based discussions include discussion about the self, e.g. self–respect and self-worth in relation to the individual value so that children see that they are important in their own right.
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Choice within the curriculum begins in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Within Key Stage One and Two, the curriculum is developed to include elements of choice, as is our Home Learning.
Children are encouraged to develop independence in learning and to think for themselves.
Pupils are free to make choices to participate in lunchtime and after school clubs and even everyday things like the choice of hot dinner that they might make or the equipment they might play with.
MUTUAL RESPECT
Central to our school ethos is the teaching of Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. We discuss and teach to respect ourselves, others and our environment.
We want our pupils to leave with a strong set of moral values that has respect and cooperation at the core.
TOLERANCE OF THOSE WITH 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 explore values of diversity and tolerance.
Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices have been delivered and children of all faiths are encouraged to engage in collective worship during assemblies.
We deliver the diverse Agreed Syllabus for RE in Worcestershire. This subject is led by an experienced teacher.
Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning.
Equality is promoted within the curriculum as well as through the wider aspects of our provision as is the challenge of inequality and stereotypes. For our youngest children, this is often done through story and linked to personal experience. For older children, the ability to empathise with others and to challenge misconception or unfairness is further developed.