British Values and Equality
British Values
At The Pathfinder we are fortunate that our pupils, their families, our staff and other partners represent a diverse range of home backgrounds. We teach a themed curriculum which links with the national curriculum. It also incorporates the interests of pupils and supports them in becoming good local, national and global citizens of the future.
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”.
Our school reflects British values in all that we do. We nurture our pupils on their journey through life so they grow in to caring, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British society and to the wider world. We encourage them to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and others in our school, our local community and beyond.
At Pathfinder, we actively promote British values in the following ways:
Democracy
Pupils are encouraged to debate topics of interest, express their views and make a meaningful contribution to the running of the school. They are able to do this in a number of ways e.g. curriculum planning, house captains, school council, eco-club, worship gang, digital leaders questionnaires and surveys.
Rule of Law
We have a clear positive behaviour policy which helps pupils to make good choices about their behaviour. Each class draws up a charter together at the beginning of the school year, based on the school values and what this means to them. Pupils are helped to distinguish right from wrong, in the classroom, during collective worship and in the playground. This is supported by a Restorative Justice approach. Pupils are encouraged to respect the law and The Pathfinder enjoys visits from services such as the Police, Fire and Ambulance services to help reinforce the message.
Individual Liberty
At school, pupils are encouraged, and given the freedom to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment, e.g. challenging themselves in their learning. They are supported to develop self-knowledge, self-confidence and a optimistic mindset in all areas of school life. Pupils are taught to understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms in a safe way, e.g UNICEF Children’s Rights and PSHE lessons. They have key responsibilities in school like being a playleader, leading worship, digital leader or a library monitor.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
Respect is one of our core values. Pupils understand that respect is shown to everyone, both adults and children. We help them to develop an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures. Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour. Links with local faith communities and visits to places of worship is promoted and people from different faiths are invited to school to share their experiences in class. Through the PSHE and RE curriculum pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences and similarities between people. We offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied.
Equality
DEMAT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a supportive and inclusive working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit.
We do not discriminate against staff on the basis of age, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion, faith or belief (Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics). The principles of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity also apply to the way in which staff and Governors treat visitors, volunteers, contractors and former staff members.
The Pathfinder Church of England Primary School is committed to ensuring equality of provision throughout the schools’ communities. To achieve this, our equality objectives are as follows:
Equality Objectives
- To ensure all pupils in the school receive learning experiences which will enable them to achieve their potential and enrich their lives;
- To welcome and treat every member of the school as an individual;
- To encourage pupils to become responsible and independent while preparing them for their role in a wider social context;
- To reduce prejudice and increase understanding of equality and diversity within the school and promote within the wider community;
- To promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and understanding through a rich range of experiences both in and beyond the school.
Statement of British Values
All pupils at DEMAT schools are strongly encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance. At Pathfinder C of E School, we ensure that pupils understand that whilst different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law. Our school’s ethos and teaching supports the rule of English civil and criminal law and we do not teach anything that undermines it. When we teach about religious law, we explore the relationship between state and religious law, and ensure that pupils understand the difference between the law of the land and religious law.
We promote fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. As a community, we actively challenge opinions of behaviours in school that are contrary to fundamental British values. We use the National Teachers’ standards and the Headteacher Standards (2017) in our appraisal of teachers and headteachers. We expect all staff to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high ethics and behaviour within, and outside of, school. This includes not undermining fundamental British values.
Equality Pledge
We believe in the dignity of all people, and their right to respect and equality of opportunity. We value the strength that comes with difference, and the positive contribution that diversity brings to our community.
How we teach British Values at Pathfinder C of E Primary School
Curriculum themes and topics:
Our curriculum is knowledge-rich, carefully sequenced and taught to be remembered. It provides children with firm foundations, equipping them with the core skills they need to succeed in their next stage of education and later in life. Lessons across the curriculum are designed to develop vocabulary and support children in the retention and application of learning, whilst also fostering curiosity, creativity and an awareness of the world in which we live and their impact on it. We are aspirational in our curriculum choices, where opportunities for spiritual, moral and social development are woven throughout. Children are introduced to a wide range of themes and encouraged to think as global citizens. English lessons are supported by a careful selection of high-quality texts which introduce new cultures and broaden children’s horizons.
Pupils have the opportunity to learn about democracy in our History, RE and PSHE curriculum and compare it to other types of governance. For example, through our History curriculum our Reception age children learn about the Magna Carter; in Year 4 children learn about the Magna Carter and Oliver Cromwell’s parliament; in Year 4 children also learn about the founding of democracy in Athens; in Year 5 the Bill of rights is studied and finally, in Year 6, children compare democracy in the 19th Century with today and communism and democracy in their unit on the Cold War.
Respect for all faiths and beliefs is promoted in the teaching of RE as children gain a greater understanding of religious diversity and practices for those religions represented in our school and the UK. Planning for RE is directed by the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) - Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. The local Churches and other places of worship are visited as part of the RE curriculum. Children are encouraged to talk about their faith and learn about different festivals through the year.
In PSHE our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety policy and PSHE work on keeping myself safe.
Pupils are taught the value and the reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. They learn this through a variety of experiences, such as in History where laws protect citizens from monarchs and tyrants, and that as individuals and groups we can challenge laws through work on the suffragette movement. Children also consider the role of law in protecting our world through Geography, PSHE RE and Collective Worship.
Promotion of the concept of “fair play”, following and developing rules, celebrating and rewarding success, accepting defeat and participating in activities that promote cooperation with others and inclusion for all form an integral part of the PE curriculum, and our extra-curricular sporting calendar.
Daily acts of Collective Worship
Our Christian ethos and the influence of our Behaviour, Routines and Expectations help to create a strong sense of community and belonging in our school. Our Collective Worships are all sequenced and shared within our school values for the children to reflect upon and consider how it could be applied in their everyday lives. Weekly celebration assemblies are used to celebrate success in all forms; pupils are recognised for acts of kindness, their work in the local community, musical and sporting achievements, and for ‘living’ our school values.
Both our weekly Monday Collective Worships and Picture News themed Class Worships are led by pupils and develop children’s understanding of British values through making meaningful and relevant links. During these sessions, children are provided opportunity to question, discuss and debate. Time is given to develop skills to allow children to disagree in a respectful way, recognising that opinions may differ from their own. As a result, pupils are actively living our British Values in all they do, say and take part in during the school day.
Community links
By working with our community, we ensure that we move forward in a mutually respectful and tolerant way. Our strong and ongoing partnership with Pathfinder C of E Church is a key example of this. Our children perform in nativity plays and sing carols. We also learn about a variety of religious festivals in our RE units, including Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year. We invite parents in to give us greater understanding of different faiths, and work together to ensure we emphasise not what is different, but what we all have in common; our School Core Values, and the values of modern Britain.
Extra curriculum opportunities
Our program of extra-curricular activities support children’s spiritual and social wellbeing. After school clubs offer a range of sports, where the emphasis is on cooperation and teamwork, contributing to the social and moral development of our pupils. Our extensive music offer provides opportunities for musical and spiritual enrichment. During break times, our Play Leaders model individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance as they teach children to take part in a variety of games and activities on the playground.
Furthermore, we recognise the diverse nature of both our community as well as the wealth of opportunities available to them for further education and careers. We therefore aspire for our extra-curricular provision to be as broad and balanced as our core curriculum. As a result, it includes clubs such as languages, art, animation, construction clubs, choir and orchestra in addition to those traditional sporting sessions. From September 2024 our School Council will be reinstated and will offer a wealth of opportunities for pupils to engage with British Values.
Family Worker’s Role
As a Designated Safeguarding Lead our dedicated family worker provides vulnerable children with the skills and understanding to recognise that their voice matters, ensuring pupils know that it is their right to speak with a trusted adult who can help to keep them safe. In a pastoral context, the family worker supports children and families to process and articulate their feelings and emotions, building to a position of mutual respect and tolerance.
Behaviour, Routines and Expectations
The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Our behaviour system is shared and understood by all pupils and staff so that our expectations are clear at all times.
Voices heard
Pupils, parents and staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard at Pathfinder C of E Primary School. Some examples of this include:
- Pupils take part in staff recruitment
- Pupils are asked for their views during subject reviews and ‘deep dives’
- Pupils are surveyed about all areas of school life
- Parental opinions are polled regularly, including during parents evening
- Staff feedback is encouraged and welcomed at regular intervals
Involvement in key local and national events
- Each year Armistice Day is remembered and children are encouraged to reflect on this.
- Involvement in coronation / jubilee celebrations
- Involvement in the 2024 general election