Promoting British Values

As a school community, Shawclough helps its pupils to develop “British values”.

As a community we embrace the Government’s definition of British Values:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Respect for those with different faiths and beliefs

(Source: DfE Press Release 23.6.14)

 

Democracy

Pupils at Shawclough have the opportunity to develop their understanding and knowledge of the importance of democracy in society. Democracy is embedded into many aspects of school life.

At the beginning of each school year the children enter into democracy through the schools behaviour policy. They have a choice about appropriate learning behaviours across the school day, which are displayed in class charters.  

The pupil’s voices are also heard through the process of electing school council. Ideas and issues are discussed and voted on by school councillors on behalf of their peers.

Pupil voices are heard through curriculum interviews, questionnaires and in PSHCE.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural lessons are planned and taught with pupil voice in mind. 

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they are in school or out of school, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day.

By teaching pupils that people may have differing views as to what is “right” and “wrong”, we as a society have a set of laws we are expected to abide by.

Pupils are taught the values of Laws. They understand that laws are put in place to protect us. The agreed rules of school allow pupils to gain first-hand experience of taking responsibility for their actions and they understand there are consequences when rules are broken.

Messages about Laws are delivered via school assemblies, PSHCE lessons, e- safety lessons and when someone breaks a school rule. We use opportunities to invite the Fire Service and the Police to work with our children to reinforce the message about Laws.

Individual Liberty

Shawclough School positively encourages pupils to engage in making choices based on the understanding that they have rights, so long as they respect other people’s rights. We ensure that pupils understand and exercise their rights through assemblies, PSHCE, e-safety lessons and when making choices during playtimes. Pupils individual choices can be expressed through challenges in games and PE, written work, discussions during lessons or during extra-curricular clubs.

The pupils are encouraged to make choices knowing they are safe to do so and supported once they have made their choice.

Mutual Respect

Shawclough School has embedded the clear set of UNICEF rights, with the understanding that everyone deserves respect within our community. Whole school assemblies and Class charters are based on UNICEF rights to respecting ethos. The school ethos and behaviour policy encourage pupils to take responsibility for themselves and respect those people they encounter in their community.

We encourage pupils to look after their environment by praising pupils for picking up others belongings, hanging up coats, holding doors open for others, looking after equipment and by saying sorry if they have hurt someone.

Shawclough School prides itself on the numerous comments we receive from visitors on how much the pupils respect each other and the adults they encounter.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Shawclough School has a curriculum working party that focuses their attention on making sure that tolerance, faiths and beliefs are embedded in the curriculum. Cultural diversity can be observed in the pupils themselves and provision is made for the pupils to share their experiences and diversity can be seen on displays around school.

The pupils have the opportunity to celebrate diversity through assemblies where members of different faiths are invited into school to share their knowledge and enhance learning. RE lessons and PSHCE discussions, focus on the acceptance of people’s differences and faiths. We purposefully plan topics such as Going Global and we plan special celebration days.

Prejudice- based bullying is never accepted and never shied away from. Staff encourage pupils to talk about their thoughts and opinions and alternative thinking is offered