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British Values

As a Church School we reinforce British Values through our broad curriculum, SMSC and through our Collective Worship which is strongly Christian. As a school we value and celebrate the diverse heritage of everybody at the school and alongside this we value and celebrate being part of Britain.

Throughout our RE curriculum, we promote British Christian Values and also educate our pupils about other faiths and beliefs.
At Southdale Juniors, you will encounter these values throughout our everyday school life. We firmly believe that our Church school Christian identity plays an important role in upholding British values within our school community.

We aim to ensure that children at Southdale become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background. This will ensure that the pupils who attend Southdale understand the importance of respect and have begun a journey to fully prepare them for life in Modern Britain.
We agree with the Department for Education’s five part definition of British Values.

  • Democracy
  • The rule of law
  • Individual liberty
  • Mutual respect
  • Tolerance of those of different faiths and belief

We agree with the Department for Education’s advice that through cultivating these values:

  • We will enable pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.
  • We will enable pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England.
  • We will encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative , and to understand how they can contribute.
  • We will encourage pupils to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England.
  • We will promote further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation for and respect for their own and others’ cultures.
  • We will encourage pupils to have respect for other people.
  • We will encourage respect from pupils for democracy and support participation in the democratic processes , including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

Democracy

Our pupil elected school council plays a strong role in our school. They are elected by their class peers. We know that the formation of the school council and the active participation of our pupils will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.
The Rule of Law

Our pupils will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. At Southdale we want our pupils to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the neighbourhood or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to. This understanding of the importance of rules will be consistently reinforced by assemblies and the curriculum. Pupils are allowed the opportunity to discuss and debate the reasons for laws so children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community e.g. the police, fire service etc. We believe that by obtaining first hand, real life stories and through clear explanations this will emphasis to our pupils the importance of the rule of law.

 

Mutual Respect

The school ethos, values and long-term curriculum plan aims to promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom rules, as well as our behaviour policy.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Whilst we are a Church of England school, we offer a culturally rich and divers curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. Leaders of different faiths are welcomed to the school to share their beliefs, whilst we visit different places of worship. At Southdale, we strongly believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding.
Through our curriculum and routines of daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children at Southdale to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.