Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Curriculum
Fundamental British Values
We believe that our pupils should be encouraged and enabled to think deeply and reflect on their learning and understanding. We will challenge ideas with our pupils and help them to be able to articulate their views and debate others. With regard to British Values we believe that the four principles underpin what we do every day. Through our curriculum we aim to give children a rounded understanding of how these principles were reached:
Democracy
We believe in giving our pupils having many opportunities for their voices to be heard. These include through:
- Debates about big questions
- Choosing learning partners
- Directing their own learning
- Reviews of learning- end of year reports, evaluations of projects
The Rule of Law
The importance of rules, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school day. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and are involved in devising them, 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
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 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 our online-Safety lessons. Whether it be through their choice of lunches, learning partners or challenges, or their choice of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make meaningful choices.
Mutual Respect
Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.
Children are taught to accept each other for who they are and to not discriminate against those who look, act, talk or dress differently.
Children in the Early Years are explicitly taught empathy.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Woodgrange is situated in a culturally diverse area therefore we place a great emphasis on sharing experiences and promoting mutual understanding and respect.
Children are involved in celebrating each others’ special days and visiting places of worship that are important to different faiths.
At Woodgrange we celebrate that which keeps us together rather than that which may separate us.
At Woodgrange we will actively challenge pupils or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values.
Our playful approach reinforces these values as we provide freedom with guidance, allowing children to:
Negotiate rules with friends and peers, testing boundaries and developing a sense of right and wrong and fairness.
Learn to resolve conflicts and develop empathy and compassion for others.
Take care of resources and the environment- developing responsibility and the ability to make sensible choices.
