School and British Values

Our School Values

Our school values help us to live and learn in harmony together. Staff, pupils and governors chose the six values as a frame of reference for bringing out the best in all of us. They are the foundation of our safe and caring school which is committed to learning and working together. They also underpin our work as a Rights Respecting School where we ensure there is equality, respect, non-discrimination and participation.

Friendship

Respect

Responsibility

Kindness

Perseverance

Creative

As a school, we have an overview for our assemblies which include key themes, a focus on values and learning attitudes. Children are given the opportunity to enter into discussion online during reflection time in class on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.  

British Values

As well as promoting our core school values within school, we also promote the following fundamental British values: Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual liberty, Mutual respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

At Farndon, we reinforce these values through collective worhsip and regularly throughout school in the following ways:

Democracy

Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard in school. Before each topic, teachers brainstorm what they intend to learn and this is evidenced on the medium term plans. The school also carries out regular questionnaires with the pupils to ascertain their thoughts and feelings about our school. The findings are shared with staff and Governors and form part of the school's self evaluation and future planning. Pupils' views are also taken into account when setting new policy such as our Safe use of internet and Anti Bullying and Behaviour. School councillors are elected democratically, voting in each class at the beginning of each year. Pupils can also nominate their class mates to go on the Recognition Boards in class. At the end of the year, the pupils have the chance to vote for their class "Citizen of the Year". Each year we have a general election. The Tomorrow Party won the most constituencies ( classes to you and I ) and they are now working with the School Council and Parish Council to bring about positive change in the school and local community. Click here to find out more: School Council. We have also invited outside speakers to meet with children to dicuss our country's democracy. Howard Greenwood, the Local Councillor, meet with our pupils council and the School Council met with Farndon's Member of Parliament. 

Rule of Law

The importance of laws, whether they be those in class, the school or the country are reinforced in school regularly through the SMSC curriculum and whole school assembly. Across the school and the EYFS, there is a clear code of conduct with rules agreed by the pupils: READY - RESPECT - SAFE.  Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind school rules and national laws that protect us, look after us and govern us. We discuss with the children and make clear the consequences when rules in school and laws of the land are broken. We arrange visitors to speak with the children such as the Police to discuss road safety, Bikeability,  Fire safety and the NSPCC.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make personal choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate boundaries for young children to make choices safely. Children are encouraged to know, understand and excercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to excercise these safely, for example through our On-Line Safety curriculum - using EAware and the school's virtual learning platform through the creation of scrap books or partaking in discussion chat rooms.  Also, they have feedom of choice in respect of the challenge of learning in their maths and literacy with colour co-ordinated success criteria. As a school we have achieved Level 1 of the Rights Respecting Schools Award. Click here to learn more: Rights Respecting School. This means we promote Children's rights throughout school through display, assemblies and it is on the agenda in each school council meeting. Recently, we have implemented the Secrets to Success programme. Successful people realise and understand that it is about happiness, choices and feeling good about yourself. Click to learn more: Secrets to Successes

Mutual Respect

Part of our school ethos and positive behaviour policy has revolved around Core values such as respect. Our values are reflected in our school rules, display, newsletters and website and in the curriculum where opportunties arise. Where pupils show good core values or mutual respect they may well be placed on the recognition board in class, receive a praise pad from their teacher or even a Headteacher award. House Captains remind children in their Houses of good core values of behaviour in school and towards others when visiting classrooms. In our assembly overview, we focus on the value of respect and children are invited to take part in on-line discussion during reflection time.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

This is achieved through enhancing children's understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity through our Global Learning Curriculum.Collective Worship has core themes that recognise key dates within different faiths and cultures such as Ramadam and Passover. Assemblies are followed up and supported by learning in SMSC and RE. The school currently holds the RE Gold Mark. Click here to find out more on our RE curriculum: Religious Education. Members of different faiths are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within our school.

We participate in great British events such as the Royal Jubilee, Royal weddings and Remembrance events. To mark the 100 year anniversary, we had a whole History week dedicated to rememberance. The school had their own poppy field and signaled the minute silence with the last post played by a parent whose husband is in the Armed Services. 
On a more general level, the school undertakes assemblies which uphold traditional values of empathy,
respect and tolerance. These are also taught within formal SMSC sessions and RE lessons and on an informal
nature throughout the school days

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