Skip to main content
Your browser is unsupported and may have security vulnerabilities! Upgrade to a newer browser to experience this site in all it's glory.

British Values

Promoting and Supporting British Values at St Mary & St Joseph

At our school we strive to support and model British Values in all that we do. These values teach our children about important aspects of the world around them and help them to reflect on their own journey in our society. We engage in British Values alongside our Catholic faith as ways to guide us to live thoughtful, tolerant, and respectful lives.

We recognise, not only the importance of helping students to flourish academically but also spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, so they are fully prepared for life in British society and for their role as citizens, able to make the strongest possible contribution to the Common Good of all.

Following guidance from the Department of Education, we strive to:

“to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

Here is how we teach and embody these British Values in our school:

IMG 0672

Rule of Law

  • We will talk about expectations/attendance and behaviours during assemblies.
  • We learn about rules and behaviours to keep us safe.
  • We will write and share classroom rules and rules around our school.
  • We will learn about E-safety
  • We will explore the roles of people who can help us
  • We will learn about the importance of Rules as a whole school and in classes.
  • We will explore rules and responsibilities in RE and PSHE lessons.

Tolerance & Respect

  • We will learn about different religions in our Other Faiths weeks throughout the year
  • We will ask children to complete pupil questionnaires
  • We will share stories with children exploring moral/cultural beliefs
  • We will provide the children with opportunities to attend regular worship in a range of different styles and formats.
  • We will provide opportunities for children to share what they wonder about.
  • We will have whole school themed days to explore similarities and differences between members of our school family and local community.

Democracy

  • We will select and put in place a School Council.
  • We will have the opportunity to vote for things in school.
  • We will learn about the Monarchy and previous monarchies
  • We will hold debates and open-ended discussions
  • We will have roles and responsibilities in school both at a classroom and whole school level
  • We will fundraise for charities

Individual Liberty

  • We will provide opportunities for child-led learning through projects, pupil choice lessons, child-initiated learning and continuous provision
  • We provide children with choices for lunches and tuck shop
  • We provide children with choices for reading books/library books
  • We provide children with after school club choices
  • We will provide children with life skills such as cooking and ICT club
  • We complete regular pupil voice questionnaires to allow children’s voices to be heard.