Rift House Primary School promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
All maintained schools must meet the requirements set out in section 78 of the Education Act 2002 and promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. Through ensuring pupils’ SMSC development, our school can actively demonstrate we are promoting fundamental British values. Rift House Primary School takes this very seriously in both helping to shape the curriculum and experiences offered to its pupils.
Through our provision of SMSC, we actively seek (age appropriate) to:
Democracy
Each year all children are involved in deciding upon their class charter and the rights associated with these.
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised from the suggestion box. The school council meets with the Headteacher to discuss issues raised. Each term in years 2-6, the children vote for the children they think should be on the school council.
Children have an annual questionnaire with which they put forward their views about the school. We have a suggestions box in the school corridor that is emptied by the school council and is brought before the co-ordinator and Headteacher.
The importance of laws, including those that govern the class, school or country are consistently reinforced throughout the year. We have rules for the classroom, playground and lining up. We reinforce the consequences when rules are broken. Visits from the police and fire service help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty
Within school, pupils are encouraged to make choices in a supportive and safe environment. Pupils are encouraged to know and exercise their rights and to make choices safely. We ensure this through PSHCE lessons, E safety lessons and Collective Worship. We support pupils to develop their self- knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. We have a number of Junior Sports Leaders and classroom monitors. We also implement a strong anti-bullying culture and challenge stereotypes.
Mutual Respect
At Rift House School, we consistently reinforce mutual respect. Pupils are taught that their behaviours have an impact on their own and the rights of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
We plan for this area through Religious Education, Collective Worship and PSHE and through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from different faiths and cultures. . We discuss difference between people such as, differences of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and disability.
We actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including extremist views.