British Values and SMSC

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School & British Values

In June 2014 the government emphasised the important role schools can play in the teaching of British values.  It has since integrated this into the school inspection process to evaluate how well a school is promoting these values.

At St Mary’s we strongly believe that our ‘Christian Ethos’ is very much aligned to the values being promoted by the government as British. 

These values are: 

1. Democracy

2. Justice/Rule of Law

3. Individual Liberty

4. Mutual Respect

5. Tolerance

These values with guidance outlined by the Department for Education on the 27 November 2014 are not new and build upon the work of the ‘Prevent Strategy 2011’. At St Mary’s we also acknowledge that these British values are not uniquely British. They are not in conflict with our community focus of being accepting of other cultures and welcoming to those of different faiths.

School Examples

There are numerous examples throughout our curriculum where we would share and display these moral values:

• Links are made with our RHE curriculum, with a specific focus like ‘Anti-Bullying week'.

• Our children are taught RE for 2 hours per week, our new curriculum has a strong focus on children relating examples of Christ’s teaching to their life. Children freely express their feelings and views and any extreme views are challenged. In Year 6 for example Justice is taught as a specific topic.

• In our foundation subjects and through our reading spine, Britain’s place historically and geographically is taught.

• Democracy is very much in action with our elected class councillors sitting on a school council.  Before meetings they canvass the views of their peers and have real influence on school decision making and fund raising. Classes even run fundraising stalls at the school fetes.

• There are pupil surveys which are carried out through the school council. They also have suggestion boxes which they monitor. Our school Governors have seen this in action.

• At the start of every year the children write their mission statements and are at liberty to sign up to their class values.  
• Mutual respect and tolerance is developed throughout our whole curriculum, as well as during prayer and liturgy. Our Reading Spine was developed to represent the diverse population of our country.

Spiritual Development

Pupils’ spiritual development can be seen through:

• The growth of their sense of self through reflection of their personal values, beliefs, experiences, strengths and weaknesses
• The exploration of the values and beliefs of others and the development of respect for these
• A sense of passion, enjoyment, fascination and awe and wonder in their learning, and about themselves, others and the world around them
• The use of imagination, creativity and expression of feelings and emotions in their learning allied with a willingness to achieve and do their best

Moral Development

Pupils’ moral development can be seen through:

• The ability to recognise difference between right and wrong and the willingness to apply this understanding to their own lives.
• An understanding of the consequences of their own and others’ actions and a readiness to accept the consequences.
• The exploration and investigation of moral codes, moral values and ethical issues within school and wider society and to apply their understanding of what the right thing to do is.

Social Development

Pupils’ social development can be seen through:

• An understanding of the rights and responsibilities of being members of families and communities (at a local, national and global level) and appreciating how these communities function.
• Developing their personal qualities and social skills through working in different social contexts including with pupils of different ages, abilities, gender, religious, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• A willingness to participate in a variety of social settings, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively to work towards the common good.

Cultural Development

Pupils’ cultural development can be seen through:

• An understanding and appreciation of the range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and development.
• A willingness to participate in, and respond to, artistic, musical, sporting, mathematical, technological, scientific and other cultural opportunities and activities.
• An interest in exploring and showing understanding of, and respect for cultural diversity including how they accept, respect and celebrate diversity through their attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.