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.

              God Save the Queen 

We celebrated the Queen's extraordinary achievement of having reached her Platinum Jubilee with dressing in red, white and blue, a festive lunch where we sang the National Anthem,  making crowns, watching films about Her Majesty's life and even pinning the tail on the corgi. A memorable day was had by all, despite the heat.

 Stephen Lawrence Day - Equality 

This Friday in our assembly, we marked Stephen Lawrence Day by sharing the story of Stephen - stabbed to death because of his skin colour. After sharing our shock and revulsion that this should have been able to happen, we reflected on the part we all play in creating a society in which everyone can flourish.

We believe that we are created in God’s image and likeness; there is something divine in all of us. We are unique, and this is not a mistake. We are worthy of love and should show this love and respect to all around us, regardless. We joined together to thank God for the richness and diversity of our world and to pray that we can always be a force for peace.

Democracy at work

This week started with a discussion of Guy Fawkes: his place in our history and how our understanding of democracy means that violence is not acceptable as a way of getting your views heard. We talked about how we start to practise democracy in school via the elections for School Council and that we respect each other’s views through reasoned debate. Year 5 drew on their experience of debate around Shakespeare's place amongst great writers; Year 6 could share the court cases they presented when trying to unpick where the blame lay for the sinking of the Titanic. We all made a firm resolve to use debate, rather than force and to respect others' views.

Loving God, Ourselves and Others - valuing cultural diversity

Over the past two weeks we have been discussing our school mission statement and have reached “Loving God, Ourselves and Others”. The children were very clear that they show by their actions their love for others, and that this means respecting and valuing each other; our different families, cultures and languages; all the things which enrich our society. We agreed that it would be very boring if we all looked the same and had the same thoughts, ideas, experiences. There are 20 languages now spoken in our school!

Remembrance - Lest we forget

We have sold items for the Poppy Appeal around school; always received very enthusiastically!

Our 2 minutes' silence on the playground was perfectly bookended by the cannon from Tonbridge Castle. We prayed for the ability to forgive and be bringers of peace.

 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.

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!

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.

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.