Promoting British Values at Castledon
This is underpinned by our school motto and core purpose:
Unlocking Potential
We are here to help our young people develop and maximise their life chances, impacting positively on themselves, their families and the wider community.
- To provide a curriculum that is broad, balanced and appropriate.
- To provide pupils with the skills to learn at their own individual level and realise their potential.
- To promote independence.
- To have tolerance and consideration for others.
- To provide an environment where pupils can take risks and develop good self-esteem.
- To provide pupils with the skills to take their place in the community and become responsible citizens of the future.
Democracy:
Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and pupil questionnaires. The election of our school council members as well as nominating and voting for Jack Petchey award winners occurs throughout the year. A school council models a ballot/election system to support their understanding of our election system once a year. School council representatives discuss with their classes and then vote on a variety of issues including our school nominated charities for the year. PSHE lessons in the older years focus on how and why Britain is a democratic country and how parliament and the government work. Students learn about how to vote and are encouraged to engage and take interest in political issues. We feel it is crucial that our students feel that they are a valued part of society with a voice and they progress to become responsible citizens and can play a part in improving the community and world that we live in.
The Rules of Law:
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. In the secondary phase of the school pupils start to learn about the value and reasons behind laws to help them understand 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; etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. Our behaviour policy and school ethos supports the view that we need to take ownership of our own behaviour and understand its impact on others.
Individual Liberty:
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these carefully, for example through our E-Safety and life skills lessons. In the older years students vote for choices for celebration days and select from a range of enrichment sessions. We offer a variety of extra curricular clubs and opportunities, and pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect
Respect is embedded in our rules of ‘be kind’, ‘be responsible’ and ‘be safe’ and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy. RSHE and PSHE lessons explore the protected characteristics of the 2010 Equality Act to promote respect for individual differences and to actively challenge stereotypes. A strong anti-bullying culture is embedded in the school and any form of bullying, any prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour is challenged, explored and addressed.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
This is achieved through enhancing pupils' understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Links and visits are promoted with local faith communities and places of worship.
Learning through the RSHE, PSHE and Life Skills curriculum is supported by assemblies, tutor time sessions and discussions. Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour and specific staff training is provided to support this.
We work to ensure our teaching and learning is progressive, not tokenistic or reinforcing stereotypes and offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. A range of cultures is embedded in many of our curriculum topics and whole school enrichment, celebration or awareness days/weeks.
