Value

Evidence

Democracy

• School Vision and Values
• Mission Statement
• Pupil Leadership

Children, parents and staff have many opportunities for their voices to be heard at Harwood Meadows. Democracy is central to how we operate.

The first example is our School Council. The election of the School Council members reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action: children make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative and children vote in secret.   Made up of two representative from each class, the School Council meets regularly to discuss issues raised by the different classes. The School Council has hosted helped to provide equipment for our school grounds as selected by the children. 

Another example British Values being promoted through of pupil leadership is via our Wellbeing Warriors.  Children have had to apply for the post of wellbeing warrior and experience an interview process before successfully being appointed to the role.  

Children 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 children to take ownership of not only their school, e.g. through  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.

Parents’ opinions are welcomed e.g. via questionnaires, and have opportunities to comment on whole school matters.

The Rule of Law

• School Vision and Values
• Behaviour Policy
• Display of class rules in each classroom,
• Playground buddies
• Curriculum links e.g. Crime and Punishment

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. 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, these rules are displayed in each class along with the school values and code of conduct for using the internet. These rules play a fundamental role in our behaviour sanctions and rewards.

The rule of law is reinforced in different ways:

• Learning about how to conduct ourselves appropriately and stay safe in the online world
• Visits from authorities such as the Fort Alice, the police and fire service
• Bike Ability / Balance ability lessons enable children to understand the rules of the road and the potential dangers encountered should they break those rules.
• Safeguarding assemblies (NSPCC) about how we can stay safe and behaviours which are not allowed or may make children worried
• During Jigsaw lessons (RHE) 
• During Religious Education, when rules for particular faiths are thought about
• During other school subjects, where there is respect and appreciation for different rules

Individual Liberty

• School Vision and Values
• Mission Statement
• Behaviour policy
• Displays of children’s activities
• Children’s key roles and responsibilities
• 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:

•choices about how they can improve their learning

•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 PSHE JIGSAW lessons. We use the JIGSAW resource across the whole school which also links to assemblies.

Assemblies are used to embed and support the school’s values – We are Aspirational, We are Resilient, We are Kind. By teaching the children how to be successful in adopting these values, they will be motivated and equipped to:

Be effective and successful learners

Be well equipped in future educational settings / future citizens 

Make and sustain friendships

Deal with and resolve conflict evenly and fairly

Solve problems with others by themselves

Recover from setbacks and persist in the face of difficulties

Work and play cooperatively

Compete fairly and win or lose with dignity and respect for all competitors

Recognise and stand up for their rights and the rights of others

Understand and value the differences and commonalities between people, respecting the rights of others to have beliefs and values different to their own.

To respect and value our world, and the things, both material and alive that exist within it.

Children in Year 5 and 6 are given key roles and responsibilities such as Play leaders, Playground Buddies, Reading Buddies, digital leaders and Wellbeing Warriors.

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

Mutual respect

• School Vision and Values
• Mission statement
• Behaviour policy
• Display of children’s activities
• Display of positive values around school
• We have high expectations of achievement and behaviour. Children and staff are polite and kind. 

We create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive.  We embed these values in daily school life and give children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be responsible, active citizens.

We listen and respect each other. We teach the children that conflict will be dealt with calmly and fairly. All members of the school family are valued equally. We celebrate lunch time behaviour and taking care of our school environment through Litter picking crews and Gardening clubs. We celebrate each other’s achievements whether that be in or out of school through our weekly Achievement Assemblies.

When our older children are given key roles and responsibilities to work alongside younger children this helps to promote mutual respect across the age phases. E.g. Reading buddies and Playground Buddies

Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs

• Mission Statement /school aims
• RHE policy
• R.E. policy
• Equality Policy
• School Rules 

Tolerance, politeness and mutual respect are at the heart of our ethos at Harwood Meadows.

Our central aim to prepare children to be well-rounded, successful citizens for the future drives us towards ensuring that our pupils are able to live and work alongside people from all backgrounds and cultures. 

Our pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have. Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community are encouraged to treat each other with respect.

Specific examples of how we promote understanding and respect for different faiths and beliefs are:

• Through Religious Education where we develop awareness and appreciation of other cultures
• Through Jigsaw, which explores how we respect people of all different backgrounds and beliefs and how all different types of families should be celebrated 
• In English via our reading spine which has been designed to include a range of backgrounds, faiths and representations of the LGBTQ+ community
• In art and music by considering cultures from other parts of the world.

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

Whilst instances contrary to our values are relatively rare, each is treated seriously in line with our policies and expectations.