Jesus at the Heart of all that we do.

Fundamental British Values Statement

At Sacred Heart Primary School we have always ensured that through our school vision, values, rules, curriculum and teaching we promote tolerance and respect for all cultures, faiths and lifestyles. We have a duty to prepare our children for life in modern Britain and to keep them safe.

We are a Catholic School. Our school mission statement is ‘Jesus at the Heart of All That We Do’. Through this, our school ethos encompasses and upholds our commitment to both British and Gospel values.

We recognise that every pupil is unique and created in the image of God. Our curriculum is designed to enable every pupil (regardless of their faith, culture or race) to develop skills for life.

We promote tolerance of and respect for people of all faiths (or those of no faith), cultures and lifestyles; and support and help, through our words, actions and influence within the school and more widely in the community, to prepare our children positively for life in modern Britain.

As a school we have always valued the diverse ethnic backgrounds of all pupils and families and undertake a variety of events and lessons to celebrate these. We have found this approach to be enriching for all parties as it teaches understanding, tolerance and respect for the differences in our school and local community and the wider world. Underpinning all this, are a range of curriculum topics which have strong links to British History.

The government has set out its definition of British Values as:

  • democracy
  • the rule of law
  • individual liberty
  • mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths

Sacred Heart and British Values

As a Catholic School we actively promote values, virtues and ethics that shape our pupils' character and moral perspective, through the teachings of the Church. Our staff model to our pupils the values of the Catholic Church and Great Britain through their own behaviour and teach the values implicitly through every aspect of the curriculum, ensuring equality and excellence for all pupils. Through lessons and daily collective worship the school teaches and upholds traditional the Gospel Values of honesty, kindness, empathy, respect and tolerance.

The children learn about the World wars and celebrate these with respect and reverence during our Remembrance Day commemorations. 

The children and staff at Sacred Heart Primary support many local and world wide charities and our School Council respond to emergencies. The children plan and run events to raise money to help those in need both in Britain and abroad. The children at Sacred Heart Primary are encouraged to develop a strong sense of moral purpose.

Through our school ethos, we aim to ensure that our pupils:

  • Are aware of what it means to be a good citizen prepared for life in 21st Century Multi Cultural Britain.
  • Understand their responsibilities as citizens of a democratic society
  • Have an awareness of British values and traditions.
  • Maintain an awareness and respect for the culturally diverse society in which they live.

The Governing Body of our school also ensures that these values are reflected and implemented effectively in school policy and practice and that there are effective risk assessments in place to safeguard and promote students’ welfare.

Through our implicit and explicit curriculum, (particularly through; our behaviour policy, anti-bullying policy, collective worship, circle time and through the subjects of PSHE, RE, History, Geography, Modern Foreign Languages, and Literacy), we teach our pupils about democracy, personal and civic responsibility, rules and laws, the monarchy, equality, values and virtues, environmental awareness and respectful understanding of other faiths and ethnic cultures.

Democracy

At Sacred Heart, we actively model and promote democracy within our school, and this is achieved in a variety of ways, to ensure that our pupils  are equipped to fulfil their responsibilities as citizens of a democracy and develop an application to value how lucky they are living in a democratic society.

To promote the British Value of democracy we enable pupils to:

  • Elect class representatives for the school council.
  • Have the opportunity to voice opinions to help shape our schools heard in class, through our School Council Meetings, Anti Bullying Meetings, Pupil Voice groups and pupil questionnaires.
  • Develop listening and responding skills through debates which also promotes critical thinking, independent research and teamwork e.g the Big Question activities.
  • Experience a broad knowledge of and promoting respect for public institutions and services e.g.  visits to/from Police and Fire Service.
  • Understand how they can influence decision making through the democratic process e.g. School Council, questionnaires and suggestion boxes.
  • Become involved in decision making processes and ensuring they are listened to in school e.g. school council, ABC, open door policy for head, deputys, consultation groups, liaison between staff and pupils.
  • Be aware of how public services operate and help society.
  • Have knowledge of inspirational figures.

The Rule of Law

At Sacred Heart, we actively model and promote the rule of law within our school, and this is achieved in a variety of ways, to ensure that our pupils comprehend why rules and laws are necessary in their classes and in our school and across society as a whole.

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country,are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service; Ambulance etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

The concept of the Rule of Law is also reinforced through teaching activities in our curriculum. Children are taught to accept responsibility for their behaviour and understand that all unwanted behaviour has consequences attached. The school work hard to support all pupils to make positive behaviour choices that follow the rules for life, which we should all live by. All children are directly involved in writing their own class rules agreeing our school rules and the sanctions that could be applied if rules were broken. This enabled them to understand why rules are made and how rules help to keep the peace.

To promote the British Value of the rule of law, we enable pupils to:

  • Have a clear understanding of the expectations we place upon them within our school rules through our consistent behaviour and anti-bullying policy.
  • Children are actively involved in writing their own class rules, agreeing our school rules and sanctions that could be applied if rules are broken.
  • Learn the value and reasons behind these laws: that they govern and protect them, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.
  • Helping children to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals.
  • Contribute to the well-being of those in the locality and beyond, through many events such as supporting charities.
  • Remember the expectations made upon them during when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.
  • Look at how the Ten Commandments are linked with British values and form the basis for laws in Great Britain.
  • Distinguish right from wrong e.g. by using the example of Christ when dealing with behaviour that is not acceptable.
  • Gain a respect for the law and the basis on which it is made e.g. through visitors such as police into school.
  • Take responsibility for their actions by following the school behaviour policy that is linked to restorative justice e.g. that is based in the Christian value of forgiveness.

Individual Liberty

At Sacred Heart, we actively model and promote the individual liberty, by providing the opportunities for pupils to become positive and emotionally resilient with the knowledge and confidence to stand by their own convictions, whilst also respecting others. Through our provision of a safe learning environment, which enables us to educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely. Our pupils encouraged understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and learn how they can do so safely, during E-Safety and Circle Time sessions.

To promote the British Value of individual liberty, we enable pupils to:

  • Make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment where adults are always ready to listen to them.
  • Develop their self knowledge, self esteem and self confidence e.g. through our Catholic ethos and our way of treating people. Our Anti Bullying Ambassadors are evidence of our children's own passion for helping others.
  • Acknowledge the needs of all of the children, by providing equality of opportunity and by knowing and understanding the needs of all of the children.
  • Take responsibility for their behaviour as well as knowing their rights e.g. through linking rights with responsibilities, by having a fair and consistent behaviour management policy.
  • Challenge stereotypes e.g. visitors into school, disability awareness, anti-bullying activities that are ongoing all year – not just in anti-bullying week – see action plan.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Belief

We at Sacred Heart, are a multicultural school, united by our Catholic faith. We actively model and promote the Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Belief by providing the opportunities to learn about other cultures, we also appreciate British traditions and customs, through themed assembly. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been further developed by supported learning in Geography, RE and PSHE and promotes global citizenship.

Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge and experiences to enhance learning within classes and the school, for example Y2 regularly visit our local mosque. Through our PSHE Week we celebrate the cultural diversity of our school community and through our RE curriculum regular weeks are set aside to study other faiths in all year groups.

We value the diverse ethnic backgrounds of all pupils and families and undertake a variety of events and lessons to celebrate these.#

To promote the British Value of Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Belief, we enable pupils to:

  • Develop a respect for individual differences e.g. through assemblies and masses, the RE curriculum, diversity of cultures represented in the school through our Catholic ethos.
  • Acquire an understanding of and respect for their own and other cultures and ways of life e.g. through Geography, International Links, Religious Education and Multicultural awareness.
  • Visit important religious sites and places of worship Churches, Cathedrals (St.Alban’s) and the local mosque.
  • Discuss and celebrate the differences between people such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender and different family situations.
  • Develop the skills of tolerance and respect for those who are different from themselves.