Teaching British Values

Promoting British Values at St Teresa’s

At St Teresa’s, we are committed to learning about British Values in line with the advice from the DfE and the definitions set out in 2011 Prevent Strategy. At St Teresa’s these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy:

Democracy is fully embedded within our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council, Sports Council, election of team captains and Pupil questionnaires. Our school Behaviour Policy involves rewards which the pupils vote on as a group.

Rabbi Plancey returned to our school as he is now the Mayor of Hertsmere, to speak to our pupils in an assembly. Mayor Plancey spoke about how he was elected mayor and how in this role he works to help people in need. Mayor Plancey has invited our School Council reps to visit the local council offices to see democracy in progress. 

The Rule 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. 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police and the Fire Service etc are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

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 safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

 Mutual Respect:

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Displays around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our Behaviour Policy.

 Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

We are a Catholic school that recognises and celebrates 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 eg. International Day

At different times within the year, our pupils learn about other faiths and their beliefs.

Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by teaching and learning in RE and PSHE.

Paying our respects

Selling poppies and our Remembrance Service which was led by Y6

School Council Visit Hertsmere Council Chambers with Mayor Plancey and Deputy Mayor Cynthia Barker

Rabbi Plancey (previous Mayor)