Promoting British values

We prepare our children for life in modern Britain by teaching them the fundamental British values.

Democracy

Each year the children decide and contribute to the drawing up of their class rules and the rights associated with these. Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. Each year a school council is elected and representatives from each class take on the responsibility of meeting together to discuss issues raised in class.

The rule of law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are reinforced in the classroom, as well as when dealing with behaviour and in school assemblies. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the police and fire service help reinforce this message.

Individual liberty

Pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We provide a space for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through e-safety and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons.

Mutual respect

Children learn that their behaviours impact on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect. 40 per cent of our children are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. We believe we have a crucial role in tackling racism and other forms of discrimination. We are committed to standing against racism and injustice, alongside and in solidarity with the local and global black community, and to enabling the children to express and understand who they are and what is racism. We do this during October’s black history month, and throughout the school year.

Responding to climate change

Sacred Heart is joining the fight against climate change. Here are some of the ways we are cutting our carbon emissions and promoting climate justice:

• Encouraging active travel to school and providing ample bicycle and scooter provision
• Recycling and energy saving initiatives
• Intalling led lights throughout school in 2019 and 146 solar panels on the school roof in 2022
• Using only fsc paper and being aware of sustainability in our procurement
• Teaching stewardship of the environment in the curriculum
• Raising awareness and money for charities such as cafod, which support those in the poorest countries around the world where climate change is doing the greatest harm.