At Gade Valley Primary School we value the diverse backgrounds of all our pupils, their families and our staff. We are mindful of the Department of Education’s requirement within the Prevent Strategy (2001):
“To create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”
Democracy
Democracy is embedded in our school. 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.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced. Our school has ‘Golden Rules’, which are deeply embedded in our work every day. Each class also discusses and sets its own rules. These are clearly understood by each pupil in each class and ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. Our pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws - that they govern and protect us and the consequences when laws are broken.
Individual Liberty
The pupils are encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely: examples of this can be clearly seen in our e-safety and Jigsaw P.S.H.E. lessons. Through choice of challenge, of participation in our numerous extra- curricular activities, our pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect
The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small. We provide an array of opportunities for our children to develop a mutual respect for each other. We actively promote that all members of our school community treat others as they wish to be treated and speak to others as they wish to be spoken to. We nurture a respect and acceptance of other’s faiths, cultures and beliefs through our RE teaching.
Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
We enhance pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education lessons, P.S.H.E. work, participation in a range of festivals and celebrations and enjoying a depth of study during themed weeks. For example, during Geography Week, each class specifically focuses on one country. Beliefs, traditions and customs are studied in depth to enable our pupils to gain an understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society.
At Gade Valley, we use our Jigsaw PSHCE curriculum to actively promote British values so that our pupils are well-prepared for life in modern Britain.
As part of our Children in Need event, we held a special 'Pie Assembly'! Staff competed against each other in two teams. Each team was set a number of challenges by Mr Barron. For example, staff had to complete a blind food tasting challenge and build the tallest tower they could out of scrap paper! Each member of the both teams was, of course, 'pied' in the face at some point! Our pupils loved this assembly!
In order to raise as much money as possible for Children in Need, pupils (and their families) we given the opportunity to compete in the Great Gade Valley Bake Off.
All the entries were judged by Mr Barron and the cakes sold after school.
Thank you to our school community for supporting the event!