British Values

At Chalfont St Peter Church of England Academy we actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

These concepts are explored through our curriculum and in all subjects but in Religious Education and PSHE and Citizenship in particular, where children can deepen their understanding. We make great efforts to ensure our children are exposed to a wide range of experiences beyond their own community. We do this through school visits locally and abroad as well as via Skype links with our partner schools. This enables children to embrace difference and celebrate commonality between peoples alongside developing a pride in “Britishness” and a sense of belonging to our nation.

DEMOCRACY

At Chalfont St Peter Church of England Academy we listen to the views of children and we do this through a variety of means including:

Pupil surveys
Circle time
Our Impact Reporters and Wings groups elected by children
A strong element of team work and debating where children are encouraged to express clearly their view point and listen to the views of others respectfully
Children take the initiative and lead in aspects of the school such as charitable appeals and fundraising.
Children help to formulate and agree a set of class/year group rules at the beginning of each school year.
We discuss democracy within assemblies.

THE RULE OF LAW

Our school has ‘Diamond and Golden Rules’ which promote the well-being of the individual and the school as a whole. Each class reinforces those rules and they are a central part of the school ethos. The school has a positive behaviour policy that sets out rewards and sanctions. We encourage children to recognise rights and how these go hand in hand with responsibility.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY

We support children to make informed choices in a secure setting. Children develop self-respect and value themselves as individuals. Our school ethos, and methods of teaching, develop children’s independence as well as other qualities such as perseverance and resilience.

At Chalfont St Peter Church of England Academy our curriculum celebrates the memory of those who have struggled for liberty.

MUTUAL RESPECT

Respect is a core value of our school and underpins our ethos. Respect is shown by all adults and children towards each other and towards our community. Our wide and broad curriculum supports this and helps children to articulate what respect means in practice. Children can talk about their own faith and beliefs as well as the faiths and beliefs of others. Our emphasis is one of unity around what unites us as human beings.

TOLERANCE OF THOSE WITH DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS

Through Religious Education and PSHE and Citizenship, in particular, we deepen children’s understanding of faith and belief. We welcome visitors from our community and have themed weeks to enrich our understanding of culture. We have an emphasis on British culture and celebrate St George’s day and Shakespeare’s birthday.

This half-term we have started using Roots and Fruits for our Collective Worship.

Roots and Fruits provides creative collective worship for primary schools based on Christian values and themes over a period of two years. Rooted in Bible teaching, twelve Christian values represent the fruit that grows as the teaching is lived out in everyday life.

We reflect on these values throughout our school day, especially in our whole school and class assemblies. We work hard to demonstrate the best of these values, both in and out of school.