Promoting Fundamental British Values

The DfE has reinforced the need ’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, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs’

At St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary school we have reflected on what ‘British Values’ means to us and agree that our mission statement and ethos which is based on Love encompasses and promotes all that is expected and to which we aspire everyday. We want our school community to be proud of, and value, where they come from and have a shared understanding of what it means to live and learn in Britain. We seek to nurture this in all we do and ensure that we actively promote mutual respect and value of every person including combating any form of extremism.

Please see the full statement below. 

Year 5/6 enjoyed putting questions to Tom:

How did you become an MP?

What did you do before you were an MP?
What do you think of the architecture of the Houses of Parliament?

What do you do to make Tonbridge safe?
What is your greatest achievement as an MP?

We have some future parliamentarians!

 In Flanders Fields

BY JOHN MCCRAE

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

The children in Years 3 and 4 have written their own poems in response to this, in the form of acrostics.

Weary faces, injuries all around

And a million guns firing every second

Red blood on the ground, making a red carpet.

Remember me on the 11th of the 11th at the 11th hour.

Remember the soldiers

Everyone.

Magnificent and trustworthy,

Excellent and cheerful.

Most helpful

Brave every day.

Especially remember them on

Remembrance Day.

Democracy:

The children experience this when they elect School Council representatives from each class. The candidates prepare speeches to present to their electors (class) after which there is a secret ballot. Representatives attend regular School Council meetings  which give the opportunity to discuss ideas for school improvement. The results of these discussions are then relayed to the classes by their own representatives.

Local government:

During our recent Careers Day, the leader of our local council Nicolas Heslop, spoke to Years 5 and 6 about his work.

Our MP, Tom Tugendhat

We are lucky in having Mr Tugendhat visit us regularly as part of his Christmas card competition. He generously spends time afterwards answering children's questions about his work as an MP. This year's questions were particularly probing.

British Values Assembly themes 2019-20