Democracy

Democracy is an important value at our school. Within each class, behaviour expectations are set at the beginning of the year, and once agreed by the class members, are displayed for all to see.

Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council, our Ethos Groups and the Eco Group. The elections of members of these are based on pupil votes. The children work on whole school issues and respond to the thoughts and wishes of their classmates.

 

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws and rules, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. There is a clear system for behaviour management, which is set against class behaviour agreements and the whole school behaviour policy. 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.

The home school agreement enables all the stakeholders in school to be aware of the expectations we have for the children, parents and staff in school, and enables us to work together.

Visits from authorities such as the police and fire service are a regular part of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

 

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment, a planned curriculum and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e-safety teaching and PSHE lessons. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices, e.g. choosing their own lunches and selecting after-school clubs.

 

Mutual Respect

Respect is one of the core values of our school. This can be seen and felt in our pervading ethos in school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small. The core value of Love at Holm Cultram Abbey, underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom. Values are highly visible around the school and can be seen in posters, certificates and as part of our agreed codes.

Specific work, such as on Anti-Bullying, E-Safety and safeguarding, support children to understand the effects their actions could have on others and what they must do if they feel unsafe.  Regular messages through activities such as these help to support the children in school to make the correct choices and to make everyone feel happy.

 

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

This is achieved through enhancing pupils’ understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity in our local community, where there is an increasing number of families from other countries. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE.  We undertake regular charity work, such as through Children in Need, Sports Relief and Comic Relief, as well as supporting emergent issues such as natural disasters, spending time to research where our money would be going and who it would be supporting. Across school, we celebrate some of the major festivals, using technology to find information and video clips.  We then look at the various aspects of the celebration, such as the food or the art.

Visits from school to places of worship help children to see the similarities between the various religions and beliefs.   

Visitors to school teach the children about life in different countries and where the similarities and differences lie.

Likewise, we use opportunities such as the Olympics and World Cup to study and learn about life and culture in countries who participate.