AT ST MARY MAGDALENE C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL WE 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.
DEMOCRACY
At our school democracy is taught during assemblies, philosophy lessons and class-based PHSE sessions.
We have a School Council made up of two representatives from each class, who are voted in each year by their peers. Pupils take part in an election process to be selected for the School Council. This involves each candidate presenting their proposals followed by a voting process where children are given the opportunity to decide who they would like to be their class representatives on the school council. School councillors are given the opportunity to share pupils’ views with the school leadership team and the governors. They are also involved in decision making in the school through a democratic process, gaining an understanding that a place on the school council comes with the responsibility of representing their peers’ needs and interests.
Children are also given regular opportunities to express their ideas and views in school through the use of Pupil Voice interviews and questionnaires.
THE RULE OF LAW
At St Mary Magdalene we consistently reinforce the importance of laws and rules be they in the class, the school, or the country as a whole. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws - that they govern and protect us - the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when rules and laws are broken. Pupils are taught from an early age that the rules of the school, which are called the Golden Rules, are core to our behaviour expectations throughout the school. Pupils are also taught the importance of following rules such as safety guidelines in lessons or on school trips and the reason why these rules are important in our school community. Visits from authorities such as the Community Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY
As a school, we educate our pupils to make informed choices in a safe environment, providing agreed boundaries to ensure that pupils are able to appreciate that freedom also requires care and acknowledgement of others. Pupils are aware of their rights, responsibilities and personal freedoms and are actively encouraged to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. At St Mary Magdalene we cultivate an atmosphere in which children can make choices about their school life in a supportive environment.
"MUTUAL RESPECT AND TOLERANCE OF THOSE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS"
Mutual respect is central to our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others, particularly through processes such as restorative justice. All members of the school community treat each other with respect. When a child does well, their achievement is celebrated through the use of green cards, a special mention on the school blog and in a whole school celebration collective worship. The ethos of our school is based on the Christian Teaching of: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” reinforcing an understanding of mutual respect and courtesy to all pupils and staff in our school community. We all follow the shared values of: Friendship, Honesty, Love, Resilience, Forgiveness, Understanding, Wisdom, Enthusiasm, Respect, Sharing and Humility.
We are a diverse school and we actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education lessons and PSHE lessons emphasise the need for tolerance and respect for others, this includes our pupil Faith Team which comprises of pupils from different faiths and those of no faith. The children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. Members from our wider community of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge and practices enabling every pupil to extend their learning of various religions and faiths within classes and the school.