BRITISH VALUES
Preparing Children for Life in Modern Britain
St Alban’s Academy prides itself on the implementation of British values throughout the school.
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Fundamental British values are woven into our curriculum at St Alban’s. Not only do we respect British values and believe in them, we actively promote them across the school.
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We strive to ensure that our children develop a strong sense of understanding about our country and the values that we hold dear. Our values of respect, enjoyment, achievement, cooperation and honesty are intertwined with the British values to ensure a safe and stimulating environment in which to learn.
The Department for Education states that there is a need:
“To create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools 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”.
At St Alban’s our children are encouraged to explore and develop whilst applying the key principles outlined in our British values statement. We have constructed a bespoke curriculum based on topics that will excite and engage our children. Our curriculum provides an opportunity to integrate British values into each child's learning and how best to apply these to real-life contexts.
Democracy
All pupils have the opportunity to make choices throughout the course of each school day. They are encouraged to reflect upon their choices and to express their opinions in the appropriate manner knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
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Our Pupil Voice (School Council and Worship Council) work alongside our staff to ensure that the pupil voice is heard and has an impact on the day-to-day running of our school. At council level the children discuss issues raised in class and suggest ideas for ways to improve aspects of their school experience. Pupils also have a voice when they complete the school surveys.
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At the beginning of each school year the children in each class will develop an understanding of the high expectations derived from our values; they will also have an impact on the class expectations they want to see upheld across the year. These rules are fairly demonstrated and applied to emphasise how our choices affect our lives and futures.
Examples of democracy in action in our school:
Pupil Voice – all democratically elected to encourage the children to become involved in the decision making process.
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Lifestyle survey/Emotional health and wellbeing survey/Year 6 exit interviews/Pupil questionnaires/Pupil Voice - allows children to become involved in the decision making process and ensures they are listened to within school.
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Pupil involvement in interviewing potential new staff – children understand that their voice is valued and they have a direct influence on decisions regarding their education.
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Pupils have a broad knowledge of public institutions and services. They understand how public services operate and how they are held to account.
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PHSCE learning themes– understanding the monarchy, Houses of Parliament and advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain.
Examples of Rule of Law in action in our school:
Robust Reflective Behaviour policy/School expectations – ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair.
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Helps children to understand right from wrong and the impact their behaviour has on those around them.
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Workshops with local police – helps pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made. Children understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.
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Our 10 Core Principles promote citizenship and an appreciation of how we all play a part in modern society.
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Parent/Carers questionnaires relating to behaviour, safety etc. – parents are listened to and their views are fed into our behaviour policy to enable a rounded approach to behaviour management across the school.
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Focus assemblies - e.g. school rules, parliament etc. planned in to assembly timetable.
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Pupils have regular opportunities to reflect e.g. on their learning, their behaviour, during assemblies.
The Rule of Law
The rules of conduct within our school are an uncompromising but fair code by which we expect all children and staff to abide. The rules are consistently enforced and reinforced, and through this we demonstrate the need for respect and reciprocity in our school.
In class lessons and assemblies pupils are reminded of the need for structure and the positive impact the rules have on our learning and personal development. This helps us to extend the thinking of our students to wider and more relevant national questions about the enforcement of laws, the fairness of the law and the way the Rule of Law has helped shape our society.
Alongside our views, we encourage the children to understand fairness and equality within the law, ensuring that they understand the moral implications of actions and paths chosen. We encourage questioning and reasoning across our curriculum lessons, using these foundations to further embed these ideals.
Our reflective behaviour policy enables children to work within a framework of expectations and manage these.
Individual Liberty
At St Alban’s, we are proud of all of our children and recognise that each is unique; through collaboration and celebration of our differences we are able to achieve wonderful things and the students are encouraged to demonstrate their many wonderful talents without fear or compromise. Many aspects of the Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum cover these matters.
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There are many occasions when children are encouraged and given the freedom to make choices within their lessons and in relation to their participation in extra-curricular learning opportunities. Community visits and PHSCE learning themes are just small ways that we provide children with opportunities to discuss their ideas, thoughts, feelings and understanding on all matters big and small.
Examples of Individual Liberty in action in our school:
Class debates/Pupil Voice – models freedom of speech through pupil participation, helping the children to understand that they make a difference to their school and those around them.
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Behaviour Expectations/Behaviour Policy/Anti-bullying policy/Buddies/Playground leaders/Behaviour Mentor/Anti-bullying week/Classroom Charters/Worry Boxes/Compliments Boards - encourages children to take responsibility for their behaviour as well as understanding their rights. Such a robust approach to anti-bullying implements a strong anti-bullying culture where children feel safe and happy in school.
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House Points/Achievement Awards/Individual personalised feedback/Peer and Self-assessment – supporting children to develop their self-esteem and self-confidence.
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Rights Respecting School – helps children understand their own rights and allows them to develop responsibilities which should be adhered to in order to honour their rights.
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Achiever's assembly – helps children develop their own self-confidence in their own abilities whilst also celebrating the achievements of others.
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R.E. & PHSCE curriculum – encourages the children to challenge stereotypes. Children not only learn about religion, they can also learn from religion and relate a range of topics to their own lives.
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Competitive Sports opportunities – allowing children to strive to be the best, whilst promoting good sportsmanship and celebrating the achievements of others.
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School values – known and articulated by school community members.
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Learning Review – allows children to receive individual personalised feedback on their success during the term. This builds self-confidence and provides each child with a platform to talk openly with their teacher.
Mutual Respect
Our children are part of a vibrant and diverse school where all cultures and personalities are treasured. We as a school celebrate multicultural Britain, and ensure that our students are aware of, and enthusiastic about, the incredible range of culture and perspectives that our local area and nation has to offer. Our staff is encouraged to model this value to the highest degree, for the benefit of the students.
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Our curriculum is embedded with opportunities to admire and learn from different voices and viewpoints, and our assemblies and pastoral work is tireless in its approach to instilling respect amongst our student body.
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Tolerance of those with different Faiths and Beliefs
Our school is based in an area of cultural diversity, and our school communities reflect this. We promote and celebrate diversity with the children, helping them to understand their place in our society and how they can unite with others to build a progressive and understanding tomorrow.
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Issues such as bullying, racism, gender inequality, tolerance, respect and prejudice are all dealt with in lessons and assemblies. Throughout our curriculum, students have opportunities to learn about and experience different cultures, from something as simple as cookery to larger looks at religion and different societal groups. Community visits and School trips may have a specific purpose such as visiting different religious sites or experiencing different areas of London and Britain.
Examples of Mutual Respect & tolerance of those with different faiths & beliefs in action in our school:
R.E. curriculum/PHSCE curriculum /Visits to a wide range of places of worship
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Whole School Learning Challenges (e.g. Remembrance and Guy Fawkes).
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Espresso News subscriptions – current affairs generates ideas and opinions.
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Visitors from local community (e.g. Food Bank) – helps build a mutual respect toward those in their local community who help others.
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Links with local faith communities and Cultural theme weeks (e.g. Diwali, Chinese New Year)/Festival assembly celebrations (e.g. Harvest) – encourages children to discuss differences between people, such as differences of faith.
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Pause for thought/Reflective thoughts in assembly – develops critical thinking skills.
St Alban’s Academy actively challenge pupils, staff, parents, carers and other stakeholders who express opinions contrary to the fundamental British values detailed here, including any “extremist” views.