At St Mary’s CE Junior School we promote ‘British values’ through our spiritual, moral, social and cultural education which permeates through the schools’ curriculum and supports the development of each child as an individual. This focus goes hand in hand with our core Christian values of Love, Courage and Creativity, which were developed through consultation with all stakeholders.
At St Mary’s, the value of democracy is deeply embedded in school life. At the start of each academic year, all children participate in a democratic voting process to elect class representatives for the School Council. We believe every child should have the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities within our school community. These include roles such as members of the Stewardship Team or Global Friends. In addition to School Council representatives sharing ideas, pupils are encouraged to voice their opinions in various ways. These include contributing to curriculum planning, participating in pupil conferencing with staff, governors and peers and completing pupil questionnaires. Our trained Peer Mentors also play a vital role in promoting fairness by helping to resolve playground disputes in a democratic and respectful manner.
The importance of laws - whether they govern the classroom, the school or the wider country - is consistently reinforced throughout our school. All pupils are involved in discussing the school rules, Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Respectful and Be Responsible. This helps them make positive choices that benefit the class, the school and society as a whole. We have a clear and consistently applied behaviour policy that is understood by all members of our school community. Pupils are taught the purpose and value of laws: how they protect us, the responsibilities they bring and the consequences of breaking them. We also welcome visits from external authorities such as the Fire Service and participate in programmes like Think Safe to further reinforce these messages.
At St Mary’s, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices within a safe and supportive environment. We provide clear boundaries and empowering education to help children make informed and safe decisions. We promote understanding of personal rights and freedoms, while also teaching pupils to respect the rights of others. This is supported through HeartSmart, our PSHE curriculum and E-Safety lessons. Whether it’s choosing the level of challenge in their work, joining extra-curricular clubs or taking on leadership roles, pupils are given the freedom to make meaningful choices throughout their school experience.
Everything we do at St Mary’s is rooted in our Christian values, Love, Courage and Creativity. We describe this as being One Family, where every pupil and adult is encouraged to love and respect themselves, others, God and the world around them. Respect is one our our school rules and pupils take part in discussions and assemblies related to how we show and earn respect. Displays around the school promote respecting all people.
We are committed to promoting understanding and appreciation of cultural and religious diversity. Pupils are given opportunities to explore and celebrate differences through a rich and inclusive curriculum. Topics such as prejudice and prejudice-based bullying are addressed through RE and PSHE lessons, and our annual Friendship Week provides a focused opportunity to explore these themes in depth. We also welcome members of different faiths and religions to share their experiences and knowledge, enriching learning across the school.