Gospel Values and British Values
Schools ‘must actively promote British values’ – DfE
Schools in England are required by the government to actively promote fundamental British values to their pupils, both in lessons and in extracurricular activities.
At Christ the King Primary School Social, Spiritual, Moral and Cultural Development of pupils is important to us and one way in which we foster this is by promoting our ‘Gospel Values’ alongside our British Values. Our policies, procedures and daily teaching are underpinned by these values. We also we aim to actively promote the values by challenging opinions or behaviours in our school that are contrary to fundamental British values.
This ensures our pupils understand the importance of respect and leave Christ the King Primary School fully prepared for life in modern Britain.”
Our teachers are expected to “uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school. This includes not undermining fundamental British values.”
Evidence of teaching and promoting British values at Christ the King Catholic Primary School is stated below.
Our weekly Gospel assembly, whole school, key stage and class collective worship are based around the Gospel Values, which forms an important focus in the daily life of our school.
Christ is at the centre of our school community. We strive to embed the school’s character traits across a broad and balanced faith filled curriculum.
Creative
Truthful
Self Assured
Forgiving
Resilient
Respectful
As well as actively promoting Gospel and British values, the opposite also applies: we would actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental Gospel and British values, including ‘extremist’ views. The term ‘British values’ might be slightly misleading in that these values are integral to so many countries throughout the world – they differ in no way from the values of most western European countries, for example.
Below are just a few examples of how we promote Gospel and British values. The first section is a general overview; the others are specific expectations set out by Ofsted. Schools are subject to a duty (Section 26, Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015) to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty.
British Values |
Links to Gospel Values |
Our behaviour management approach encourages
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Democracy: Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process.
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Gospel Virtues: Discerning, Eloquent, Intentional, Prophetic
Proverbs 14:15 “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” Links to the UN Convention of Children's Rights:
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Children to create rules for conduct and learning, which permit discussion and agreement between each other , before committing them to practice. Children also participate in workshops led or linked to the Houses of Parliament. |
The Rule of Law: Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England. Support for equality of opportunity for all.
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Gospel Virtues: Truthful, Generous, Learned, Active
Romans 2:13 "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified." Links to the UN Convention of Children's Rights Article 19: Governments should ensure that children are properly cared for, and protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by their parents, or anyone else who looks after them.
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At the start of every school year, children create a set of mutually agreed rules for conduct and learning behaviours, which they agree to adhere to once decided. We have also negotiated various reward and sanction systems within our behavioural management policy, that are applied consistently. • Our behaviour policy and teaching is underpinned by the value of forgiveness.
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Individual Liberty: Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law.
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Gospel Virtues: Wise, Curious, Faith- filled, Grateful
James 1:25 "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." Links with the UN Convention of Children's Rights Article 31: All children have a right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of activities. Article 15: Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.
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Children are taught about rights and specifically taught about the UN Bill of Human Rights. • Lessons about rights are tackled in History/PSHE, when discussing how in the past, people’s rights have not been respected, such as in times of slavery and war. All staff support pupils in developing their self-esteem, self-knowledge and self-confidence which encourages the children to be independent and inspirational learners. |
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs: Respect for and acceptance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs.
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Gospel Virtues: Loving, Hopeful, Compassionate, Attentive Mark 12:31 "The second is this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Hebrews 12:14 "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Links with the UN Convention of Children's Rights: Article 14: Children have the right to think and believe what they want, and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Parents should guide their children on these matters.
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We offer a broad and balanced curriculum that has a local, national and international dimension. • We follow the Birmingham Archdiocesan Syllabus for Religious Education . Visits and Visitors - Our children have many opportunities throughout the school year to take part in an extensive variety of school trips from residential to science, history and P.E. We also support the National Curriculum 2014 by having many visitors to our school. We value this greatly as it enriches the children’s learning in and outside of the classroom. Links with other schools – We regularly visit other primary schools within our local and wider community. This supports our learning of other faiths and celebrations and encourages the children to become confident in acquiring an understanding of, and respect for their own faith.
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