Promoting British Values at Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School

At Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School, we are committed to upholding the British values and our broad, balanced curriculum rooted in respect, tolerance, rights & responsibilities exemplifies them in policy and practice.  In summary, this means that we:

• Help pupils realise that enjoying rights means accepting responsibilities
• Help pupils to make decisions that are acceptable to the school community and society at large
• Encourage healthy self-esteem and emotional resilience
• Help pupils to value physical well-being, privacy, feelings, beliefs and the rights of others

We have undertaken a detailed review of some key aspects of the ethos of the school, clearly defining what this means to our children, the whole school and the wider community. We involved all stakeholders including children, their parents, governors and staff.

Our School Values have been developed directly from working with our children, parents and Governors. We asked the question, ‘What does Cliftonville School mean to you?’ They came up with seven different Core Values – Independence, Safe and Settled, Resilience, Respect, Aspiration, Learning and Community. These Core Values run through everything that we do here at Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School.

Whilst our Values are at the heart of everything we do, each year focus on one particular value and this is woven into the fabric of the year group. Our Values are also linked to our school behaviour learning ladder (developed at the same time) and are referred to when having discussions with children and parents. Bespoke Values workshops are also run each year.

At Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School, we recognise that our Values won't be assumed and acted upon if they are regarded as a separate, 'bolt-on' lesson. They must be explicitly taught and, in particular, where these values are very different from those at home, modeled by staff at every opportunity.

At Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School, we aim to:

• Enable children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self confidence
• Enable pupils to distinguish between right and wrong and respect the civil and criminal law of Great Britain
• Enable pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely.
• Enable children to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in Britain
• Develop a respect and appreciation for different cultural traditions
• Encourage respect for other people
• Encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process

Democracy

Pupil Voice is taken very seriously here at Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School with children being asked their opinions and suggestions about school matters. Regular meetings of the democratically-selected Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 School Council ensure that pupils are able to make valuable contributions to the development of the school. Each year children elect their peers as School Council representatives. The School Council has worked with the Senior Leadership Team on many issues including the appointment of the Head Teacher, design of the new sports provision in the KS1 and KS2 playgrounds and improving the routines at home time. The School Council have supported Senior Leaders to run regular book swaps, lead assemblies and charity fundraising.

The rule of law

Cliftonville School is underpinned by an explicit ethos where rules, whether they be for the class, Key Stage or whole school, set the expectations of how the school operates. This begins in the Pre-School by teaching 'right from wrong' building year on year leading to Key Stage 2 considering national laws around legal responsibilities: safe travel, cycling proficiency, protected characteristics, drug education, etc. 

Each year, the children are involved in developing their own class rules and are reminded of what they can expect of/ from the school and what the school expects of them in order to maximise their learning. Our behaviour policy clearly defines rules, rewards, responsibilities and sanctions and the whole school behaviour ladder has been designed and created in conjunction with the children. Through their daily school life the children at Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School develop their understanding of actions, responsibilities and consequences. Annual visits from Margate Task Force, the Fire Service and Lifeguards help to reinforce this message.

Assemblies are also carefully planned to develop children's understanding of the rule of law and the purpose of laws in keeping people safe.

Rules and the concept of fair play are taught in PE lessons, children taking part in sporting competitions and festivals.

Individual liberty

Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School wholeheartedly support the aims enshrined in the UNICEF Rights of the Child ideal and actively promote these through the work of all the adults in our school (https://static.unicef.org/rightsite/files/uncrcchilldfriendlylanguage.pdf).

Children should develop a positive sense of themselves and be given opportunities in the curriculum and wider curriculum to make choices and express their opinions and feelings.  

We encourage children to be active participants in their own learning which is done in a safe and supportive environment.  They are also supported when they make the wrong choices and to learn from their mistakes.  From the earliest age, children in Early Years and Year 1 exercise individual freedoms through their Child Initiated learning. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education.

Seeing others’ opinions and expressing feelings are explored in lessons including character ‘hot-seating’ in literacy.  Our e-safety lessons teach children about respecting their own and others’ privacy, the negative impact of cyber bullying and exercising freedoms to communicate electronically wisely and safely.

Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and persona freedom and are advised how to exercise these safely through:

• Online safety and PHSE lessons
• Choices about their learning challenges and how they record their ideas
• Participation in our numerous extended learning clubs and opportunities
• Circle Time and ‘Show and Tell’
• Pupil conferencing
• Non-uniform days

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

We are very proud of our thriving, diverse community with about a fifth of families with a cultural heritage other than British. Our children and families speak over 20 different languages. This amazing diversity means that we can often offer children arriving from overseas a friend who can communicate with them and help them to settle into school life. Language Ambassadors have formed an integral part of the everyday lives of many pupils at Cliftonville Primary and Pre-School. Each year, children who demonstrate the right qualities, and who speak more than one language fluently, are selected to provide help and support to new pupils who arrive here with difficulties in speaking English.

The impact is seen in good behaviour, low rates of exclusion and positive feedback from visitors. Through the RE curriculum and assemblies children learn about different religions and learn from different religions.  Children’s own experiences of worshiping in different settings, is often shared with peers during RE lessons.

Carefully chosen stories, images and songs strengthen the children’s understanding.  Stereotyping and prejudices are challenged again through stories in assemblies, texts used in literacy lessons, drama workshops. Some assemblies take place in the local Church.  Displays around the school, celebrate our diverse community.

Having been awarded the Primary Inclusion Quality Mark, we pride ourselves on ensuring we that we demonstrate inclusivity in all that we do.

Any parent who is concerned that their child is vulnerable to the opinions, viewpoints or suggestions of those in or out of the school, that may be deemed political, social or religious radicalisation should contact Ms Whichcord.

Ethos & Values workshops September 2019

Cliftonville pupils have been learning all about our school values. For each of the values they took part in an activity that it represented.

Independence

In this activity KS1 children learned how to tie their own laces and then tackle more complicated knots whilst KS2 children had to research a variety of general knowledge questions on the internet using iPads.  Independence is about being able to work something out on your own, to problem solve and not be dependent on others.

Safe and Settled

Here the children needed to come up with their own top 5 rules for keeping each other safe in school.

Resilience

Being resilient is sometimes hard and we need reminders and encouragement about what can do. In this activity children were given a paper plate which they then stuck on their backs and they had to write a positive comment about each other.

Respect

In this activity the children were asked to discuss all the differences that existed between us all. They talked about how exciting it is to have all these differences – that we should respect each other.

Aspiration

The children were asked to think of a target that they were going to aim for throughout the year - they wrote on their paper rockets which will now go on display in their classrooms.

Enjoying learning

Learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom or at school, it happens everywhere. In this activity the children were asked to share with others something new that they had done over the summer. We heard some exciting tales and experiences.

Ethos & Values workshops September 2016

Cliftonville pupils have been learning all about our school values. For each of the values they took part in an activity that it represented.

Independence

In this activity KS1 children learned how to tie their own laces and then tackle more complicated knots whilst KS2 children had to research a variety of general knowledge questions on the internet using iPads.  Independence is about being able to work something out on your own, to problem solve and not be dependent on others.

Safe and Settled

Here the children needed to come up with their own top 5 rules for keeping each other safe in school.

Resilience

Being resilient is sometimes hard and we need reminders and encouragement about what can do. In this activity children were given a paper plate which they then stuck on their backs and they had to write a positive comment about each other.

Respect

In this activity the children were asked to discuss all the differences that existed between us all. They talked about how exciting it is to have all these differences – that we should respect each other.

Aspiration

The children were asked to think of a target that they were going to aim for throughout the year - they wrote on their paper rockets which will now go on display in their classrooms.

Enjoying learning

Learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom or at school, it happens everywhere. In this activity the children were asked to share with others something new that they had done over the summer. We heard some exciting tales and experiences.