Gateway Academy Westminster

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British Values

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”. 

The Department for Education defines British Values as follows: 

  • Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process 
  • Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England 
  • Support for equality of opportunity for all 
  • Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law 
  • Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs 

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

 At Gateway Academy, we actively promote British values in the following ways: 

 

DEMOCRACY 

Children are listened to and are taught to listen carefully to others. Children are taught to respect the right of individuals to have their voices and opinions heard. They are taught to discuss issues in a balanced and calm way. 

Each year the children decide upon their class charter and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the charter.  

The school council meets regularly and discusses issues raised in class or as a whole school. Each council member is voted for by their own class.  

The principle of democracy is explored in the curriculum as well as during assemblies and special days.  Members of Year 5 and Year 6 visit the Houses of Parliament, the local MP, Karen Buck, is a regular visitor to our school and keeps abreast of events. 

Children have an annual questionnaire where they are able to put forward their views about the school.  

 

RULE OF LAW 

The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, is consistently reinforced at Gateway Academy.  

Children are taught from an early age the rules of the school. Children are taught the value and the reason behind the rules and the laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibility this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as local councillors, Police and the fire service help to reinforce this message. 

 

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY 

At Gateway Academy, children are actively encouraged to make the right choices, knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment. Children are expected to take responsibility for their own actions and to understand the consequence their actions might have. We educate and provide boundaries for children to enable them to make informed choices, through a safe and supportive environment. The understanding of rights and responsibilities are promoted through acts of collective worship, e safety, PSHCE. 

 

MUTUAL RESPECT  

Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect. All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect. Staff are expected to be good role models at all times. Respect regularly features as one of our assembly themes and circle times 

 

TOLERANCE OF THOSE WITH DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS 

Our core value of equality ensures respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. Children are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.  

Through the PSHE and RE curriculums pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudiced-based bullying supplement learning in RE and PSHE. Children are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behavior. 

Links and visits are promoted with local faith communities and places of worship e.g. members of different faiths or religions are invited to school to share their knowledge and enhance learning within assemblies and in class. 

 

OUR CORE VALUES

Our Core Values are: 

  • Challenge
  • Determination
  • Achievement
  • Co-operation
  • Equality
  • Staying safe

Our Core Values have been developed and agreed by staff, pupils, parents and the Governing Body of the Academy. Our values underpin all that we strive to achieve and enable our children not only to make progress and flourish in the classroom, but also to promote their social and emotional development and well-being. 

Our aim is that all members of the Gateway community feel safe and confident in supporting one another and are able to contribute positively to a wider society.