BRITISH VALUES AND

SPIRITUAL, MORAL, SOCIAL & CULTURAL EDUCATION POLICY

 

 “Saint Mary’s Catholic Primary School is a Christ centred learning community, where all are safe, valued and loved.”

This information should be taken and used as part of Saint Mary’s overall strategy and implemented within the context of our vision, instrument of government aims, and values of the Catholic Church.

 

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1.1 At Saint Mary’s we promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

1.2 Actively promoting these values means challenging opinions or behaviours in school that are contrary to fundamental British values. Attempts to promote systems that undermine British values would be completely at odds with our duty to provide Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education.

1.3 School staff are expected to uphold public trust in the profession and to maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school. This includes not undermining fundamental British values.

 

2. SPIRITUAL, MORAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EDUCATION (SMSC)

2.1 Through our provision of SMSC we:

• enable pupils to develop their self-knowledge

• enable pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England

• encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and understand how they can positively contribute to the lives of those living and working within the locality of the school, and to the wider society

• enable pupils to acquire a broad general knowledge of, and respect for, public institutions and services in England

• further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling pupils to acquire an appreciation of, and respect for, their own and other cultures

• encourage respect for oneself, and for others

• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation on the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which law is made and applied in England

   

3. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF BRITISH VALUES

3.1 Through our teaching of British values we expect that pupils will:

• understand how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process

• appreciate that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety

• encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and understand how they can positively contribute to the lives of those living and working within the locality of the school, and to the wider society

• understand that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law

• accept that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour

• accept that other people having a different sexuality or gender identity to oneself should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour

• understand the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination

   

3.2 It is not necessary for schools or individuals to 'promote' teachings, beliefs or opinions that conflict with their own, but nor is it acceptable to promote discrimination against people or groups on the basis of their belief, opinion or background