Our Values and Ethos
Promoting British Values at Roe Green Infant School
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 Roe Green Infant School, we promote “British Values” through our spiritual, moral, social and cultural curriculum which permeates throughout the school and helps support and nurture the “whole child”. This is demonstrated through our core Values and Ethos. Everyone at Roe Green Infant School embraces the core values and ethos and are proud to belong to the school.
What does promoting British Values in schools mean?
At Roe Green Infant School, we promote the basic British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs.
“This ensures young people understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.”
DfE 2014
Democracy
Democracy is embedded in our school. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern for each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council and regular questionnaires about the curriculum weeks that take place in school throughout the year. The election of the School Council members and House Captains is based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced. Our school has ‘Classroom Rules’, which are deeply embedded in our work every day. Each class also has a traffic light system that is clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. Our 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.
Mutual Respect:
Respect is one of the core values of our school as can be seen on our classroom ethos displays. Our staff and pupils adhere to these core values and ethos, and it is deeply embedded in all that we do at the school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small. The core value of Respect at Roe Green Infant School underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom.
Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
Our core value of Respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs. Roe Green Infant School enhances pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies, P.S.H.E. work, Inclusion week, religious festival assemblies and International evening celebrations.
Beliefs, traditions and customs are studied in depth, with visitors being invited in to our school to enrich and extend understanding. We have had a whole school theme on the topic of London. Through this our pupils have gained an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society.