British Values in Christ the King

The DFE state “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 and mutual
respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

Here at Christ the King RC Primary School we work diligently to ensure British Values are taught alongside the Gospel Values as the two are closely linked. Through living out our ethos of ‘Love, Life, Laughter and Learning’ we introduce and discuss these British Values. We promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children and young people through our curriculum, collective worship and wide range of extra-curricular activities, which is clearly defined in our
mission as a faith school.

Democracy: Pupils are encouraged from an early age to see themselves as having a voice which is listened to
within the school. They work within their class groups to develop their own class rules. They elect classmates to
participate in the Student Council, which meets regularly. Our school GIFT team also make a significant
contribution to the Catholic life of the school. All young people where appropriate and consistent with their level
of understanding are taught about the democratic processes that operate within the UK, including through the
PSHE curriculum. Topical political issues such as General Elections will inform discussions in class time or at
assemblies.
As a result, children gain respect and understanding of how citizens can influence decision making through the
democratic process and an understanding of how they can contribute positively to the lives of others.
Rule

Rule of Law: Pupils are taught about the importance of the rules which protect us, and keep us safe and happy,
and help us to get along with others. Through our explicit teaching, our mission, anti-bullying and Behaviour
policy, pupils are encouraged in their awareness of right from wrong and their place in the world’s history. They
are encouraged to see that rules are there not to restrain us but to free us to become better and happier people.
Throughout all phases, pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and their own behaviour.
Through PSHE lessons, participation in anti-bullying week in November and Internet Safety Day in February and
informally throughout their interactions with visitors, staff and others, pupils learn about the laws of the land,
and the roles of agencies such as courts and police. Furthermore, we work with a range of agencies and partners
to help our pupils develop safe behaviour. Our School Cadets work hard to promote the rule of law throughout
the school at playtimes. In Key Stage Two, children are taught in bespoke sessions about the laws of the land by
Global Policing, to prepare them for when they leave our care.
As a result, children gain an understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination,
including online. They are expected to show empathy towards others and learn about right and wrong.
Furthermore, they develop the confidence to argue their point of view and develop an understanding of how the
civil and criminal law in England protects all citizens within their communities.

Individual Liberty: At Christ the King our pupils are actively encouraged to make choices appropriate to their ability
and level of understanding, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We encourage pupils in the
development of their self- confidence and self-belief, and to be assertive. We reinforce the belief that we all have
rights and personal freedoms, and we demonstrate how to develop and exercise these safely, including in relation to
e-safety, through the taught and implicit curriculum.
As a result, our pupils develop a sense of their own personal freedoms, and recognise the impact they may have on
others, including staff, family and peers.

Mutual Respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs: We are in a unique position in that we
are a Roman Catholic School, and Christ is at the heart of all that we do. Our mission is to create a community of
‘Love, Life, Laughter and Learning’, and we are proud of our school, of our community and of our Faith.
Notwithstanding this, we welcome young people from all faiths and cultures. We encourage our non- Catholic
pupils to be proud of their differing beliefs, and celebrate these within assemblies and at all opportunities. Our
non- Catholic pupils take a full and active part in the liturgy and faith celebrations, in daily prayers and rituals.
Equally we are sensitive to where pupils may be less comfortable with this. Pupils are taught about
discrimination consistent with their level of understanding and how this is wrong.
Staff monitor carefully any indications of religious intolerance, including through our safeguarding policies.
Pupils have many opportunities to learn about people from different cultures and faiths including through our
curriculum, World Faith Weeks, links within the community and the multicultural nature of our school family. We
also encourage our young people to develop their sense of charity and care for others, locally and globally.
As a result, Christ the King is a happy and safe environment, in which children and young people can learn and
grow, and contribute much to British Society. Furthermore, there is tolerance and harmony between different
cultural traditions as children acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and others cultures.

SMSC at Christ the King

What is SMSC?
SMSC stands for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. All schools in England must show how well their pupils develop in SMSC. Below, there is more information about the meaning of these terms. At Christ The King, we aim to provide an education that provides pupils with opportunities to explore and develop their Catholic faith, their own values and beliefs, spiritual awareness, high standards of personal behaviour, a positive, caring attitude towards other people, an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the diversity and richness of the culture We celebrate children’s individuality and support their emotional well-being. This contributes to our pupils’ excellent behaviour and the positive and welcoming environment of our school. SMSC also promotes empathy and tolerance in our children, which means respecting and valuing each other. We believe this will help to prepare our pupils for life in modern Britain.

What does each strand mean?

Spiritual
Explore beliefs and experience; respect faiths, feelings and values; enjoy learning about ourselves,
others and the world around us; use imagination and creativity; reflect on our learning and life
experiences; empathise with others and be tolerant of others’ beliefs.

Moral
Recognise and understand right and wrong; respect the law (and our school rules); understand
consequences; think about moral and ethical issues; offer views and give reasons for our thinking.

Social
Investigate and discuss moral issues; appreciate a variety of different viewpoints; participate,
volunteer and cooperate; resolve arguments; engage with the values of British democracy, the rule
of law, individual liberty, mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for
those without faith.

Cultural
Appreciate cultural influences; understand the role of Britain's parliamentary system; participate in cultural opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.

How do we teach SMSC at Christ The King?

Our school assemblies and a weekly session in class focus on SMSC development, but SMSC is also taught throughout our curriculum, for example, when we reflect on our learning within the lesson, when we find out about other cultures and lands in geography, when we learn more about British history and the way it affects our lives today, and when we work together with each other on an activity. These are just some of the ways we aim to develop our children’s understanding of SMSC.

What can you do to support your child’s SMSC development?

Talk to your child about their learning in school. Encourage your child’s natural curiosity about the world around them and encourage them to ask questions and to share their thoughts. Let your child know that we can learn and understand about other cultures and faiths even if these beliefs are different to our own.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to speak to your child’s class teacher, who will be able to tell you more about how your child’s SMSC development is nurtured in their class. Thank you for your support.