At Chilthorne Domer Church School we teach a topic based curriculum which links with the national curriculum. It also incorporates the interests of children and supports them in becoming good local, national and global citizens of the future.

The Department for Education states that there is a 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”.

Our school reflects British values in all that we do.  We nurture our children on their journey through life so they grow in to caring, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British society and to the wider world. We encourage them to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and others in our school, our local community and beyond.

At Chilthorne Domer Church School, we actively promote British values in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is embedded throughout our school curriculum. 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. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council and pupil questionnaires. The elections of the School Council members is based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action.

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 high expectations for behaviour, which are deeply embedded in our work every day. Each class also discusses right from wrong and sets their own class rules that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment. Our pupils are taught our school values and what they look like in practice which is progressive across phases. They are taught the reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

We have a clear positive behaviour policy which helps children to make good choices about their behaviour. Children are helped to distinguish right from wrong, in the classroom, during worship and in the playground. This is supported by a Restorative Justice approach.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively 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 PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of challenge; of how they record; of participation in our numerous extracurricular activities, our pupils are given the freedom to make choices and are encouraged to act responsibly and show initiative. They have key responsibilities in school, like being a Sports Leader or a School Councillor.

Mutual Respect

As a school that holds values at the core of its ethos, our school values and relationship policies have evolved around core values such as ‘Respect’. The pupils have been part of discussions and collective worship related to what this means and how it is shown. Respect is one of the values that is taught explicitly within lessons and collective worship, enabling pupils to contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of our school. Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others, as do older children who have suitable, age-related, tasks and responsibilities and this is reiterated throughout classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour.

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our core value of Respect ensures an inclusive environment for all and an appreciation for all faiths and beliefs. Chilthorne Domer Church School enhances pupils’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through Religious Education studies including Faith Weeks; PSHE work; assemblies and visits.  Beliefs, traditions and customs from around the world are studied, with visitors being invited into our school to enrich and extend understanding. Through these activities, our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.