British Values
As an academy, we value and celebrate the diverse heritage of everybody in the Stockwell community. Alongside this, we value and celebrate being part of Britain. In general terms, this means that we celebrate traditions, such as customs over the course of the year; for example, Remembrance during the autumn term, and what could be more British than a trip to a pantomime around Christmas time! We also value and celebrate religions and festivals from around the world such as the Chinese New Year in February and Diwali in October.
All schools have a requirement to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. Through ensuring pupils’ SMSC development, schools can also demonstrate they are actively promoting fundamental British values. This means that pupils must be encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance. Schools are expected to focus on, and to be able to show, how we are successfully educating pupils in embedding fundamental British values.
The Department for Education sets out a five-part definition of British Values including:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
Democracy:
Democratic values underpin the ethos of the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through the academy’s Pupil Leadership Team (PLT), pupil questionnaires and via the listening culture where all adults listen to children and value their views. We are a restorative practice school which means that pupils are encouraged to share their feelings, build relationships and solve problems, and when there is wrongdoing, to play an active role in addressing the wrong and making things right. At Stockwell Academy we believe that through the active participation of pupil voice we develop confident, well rounded learners who have a greater, sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.
The Rule of Law:
Pupils are educated to understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to it's law. Pupils at Stockwell Academy will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day 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.
Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community including police, the fire brigade, local church members and many more which promote the importance of the rule of law for our pupils.
Individual Liberty:
At Stockwell Academy pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised on how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE/SEAL and SMSC circle times.
Pupils are consistently given choice of challenge in their learning, how they record their learning, or participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are consistently given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
Our school ethos and Behaviour Policy incorporate the value of respect, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is demonstrated at Stockwell Academy. Tolerance is promoted through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Local clergy men and women regularly lead assemblies or attend special RE days; and the main religions are taught during RE lessons so that children can gain an understanding of each faith. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and why their faith is important to them. We participate in many charitable events such as Harvest Festival for the homeless and food banks, Cancer charities, Children in Need and Red Nose Day as well as other local charities within the school community.
Stockwell Academy Values
At Stockwell Academy we have key values which underpin everything that we do. These are:
- Respect
- Listening
- Helpfulness
- Friendliness
- Caring
- Honesty
Teaching and Learning takes place in the following ways:
- By teachers explaining the meaning of the value.
- By pupils reflecting on the value and what it means to them and their own behaviour.
- Through the recognition of children displaying the value through their work and behaviour.
- By pupils using the value to guide their own actions.
- By staff modelling the value through their own behaviour.
- By ensuring that values are taught implicitly through every aspect of the curriculum.
- Through the work of the School Council.
- By involving all staff, governors and parents in the values programme, through newsletters, assemblies and the school website, which explain how school and home can work together to promote positive values.
