Democracy

We have an active School Council. The election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action. Made up of one representative from each class, the School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes.

Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.

We listen carefully to the views of the children in our school and have a suggestion board for children to share their ideas about the school and what they might like to see. Most recently, we have welcomed a school pet, organised discos and expanded our range of pupil leadership opportunities as a result of pupil feedback.

Children can vote within their classrooms, for example, voting for the daily hymn or class book.

The rule of law

The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices through our ‘Promoting Positive Behaviour’ policy. At the start of the school year, each class discusses the school rules and class routines, principles that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.

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. These values are reinforced in different ways:

• Visits from authorities such as the police and fire service
• Bikeability lessons enable children to understand the rules of the road and the potential dangers encountered should they break those rules.
• During Religious Education, when rules for different faiths are thought about
• During other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules

Our PSHRE learning follows the SCARF scheme. Our Long-Term Plan has regular opportunities to discuss rules and laws.

Individual liberty

Alongside rules and laws, we promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs. Through the provision of a safe, supportive environment, we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely; for example, making choices about how they can improve their learning and choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities.

Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are taught how to exercise these safely, such as in our PSHRE SCARF lessons. We use the SCARF resource across the whole school.

Collective worship is used to both explore and support the school’s values. By teaching the children how to manage and understand emotions they will be motivated and equipped to:

• Be effective and successful learners
• Make and sustain friendships
• Develop resilience
• Deal with and resolve conflict evenly and fairly
• Manage strong feelings such as frustration, anger or anxiety
• Be able to promote calm and optimistic states that promote the achievement of goals
• Recover from setbacks and persist in the face of difficulties
• Work and play cooperatively
• Recognise and stand up for their rights and the rights of others
• Understand the value the differences and commonalities between people, respecting the rights of others to have beliefs and values different to their own.

Children in Year 5 and 6 are given key roles and responsibilities such as Play leaders, Playground Buddies and Sports Ambassadors. Children across the whole school have the opportunity to be Eco-Ambassadors, Internet Safety officers and Collective Worship monitors.

Through opportunities such as our extra-curricular and lunchtime clubs and our residential trip, pupils are given the freedom to make safe choices.

Children at Barkston & Syston CE Primary School are encouraged to make choices knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment.

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

We have high expectations for all pupils at our school. Children and staff are polite and kind. We believe everyone has their own special gifts and that everyone was created in the image of God.

We listen and respect each other. We teach the children that conflict will be dealt with calmly and fairly through our Promoting Positive Behaviour policy. All members of the school family are valued equally. We celebrate our talents and successes through our vision – ‘Shine your light’ and discuss how this can impact beyond school level. We celebrate each other’s achievements through our weekly Celebration Assemblies.

Teachers plan exciting, interesting, challenging and innovative lessons where everybody is expected to do their best and respect others.

When our older children are given key roles and responsibilities to work alongside younger children, this helps to promote mutual respect across the school, for example, Bronze Ambassadors and Playground leaders.

We have a weekly ‘Big Question’ which allows children to discuss and share their views. Everyone is encouraged to respect and appreciate the views and contributions of others.

We are proud to promote and celebrate our different backgrounds and beliefs. Tolerance, politeness and mutual respect are at the heart of our ethos and R.E curriculum.

Our pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone and to everything, whatever differences we may have. Respect is one of our key values. Children learn that their behaviour choices can affect others. All members of the school community are encouraged to treat each other with respect.

We develop mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs further through:

•Religious Education, PSHRE and other curriculum lessons where we develop awareness and appreciation of other cultures – in English through fiction and in art and music by considering cultures from other parts of the world.

•Celebrating cultural differences through Collective Worship and displays

Children are encouraged to share their own experiences when celebrating their own faith. Daily worship reflects and teaches the children tolerance for different faiths and beliefs and is invitational. Children have the confidence to make their own choices but know they must be respectful of others.

Activities within school support both children and adults of different or no faith, the children are taught respect and tolerance of these people and the opinions of the people are taken into account with all activities.