British Values
What is Democracy?
Democracy is embedded at Marsh Hill. 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 regular questionnaires where the children can put forward their views of the school.The elections of the School Council and Anti-bullying Ambassadors are based solely on pupil votes. Candidates make speeches, pupils consider characteristics important for an elected representative, pupils vote in secret using ballot boxes etc. This process reflects our British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action.
What is ‘The Rule of Law?’
The importance of laws whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced at Marsh Hill. Our school has ‘Golden Rules’, which are deeply embedded in our work every day.Each class also discusses and sets its own 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.The children at Marsh Hill 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. To encourage and promote good behaviour, attitude and work, we have devised a reward system which is consistently followed throughout the school. We are committed to praising children’s efforts. We endeavour to praise the children informally, individually, during group work, in front of the whole class and the whole school. Children are rewarded not only for achievement in curriculum areas, but for sports, effort and behaviour and are recognised during Celebration Assemblies.
What is ‘Individual Liberty?’
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged, and given the freedom to: make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. For instance, signing up for extra-curricular clubs. Pupils at Marsh Hill are supported to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and our pastoral support reinforces the importance of making the right choices. 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. Vulnerable pupils are protected and stereotypes challenged. A strong anti-bullying culture is embedded in the school and any form of bullying is challenged and addressed. The whole school took an active role in educating pupils and the community regarding bullying fully supported by our local MP. The school also operates a robust system of logging incidents. Pupils have key roles and responsibilities in school e.g. School Council, Eco council, Year 6 Prefects, Playground Buddies, etc.
What is ‘Mutual Respect?’
Mutual respect is at the heart of our school ethos. They determine the way in which we support and care for each other, for the community and for the environment. Through our deeds and actions we promote and model ‘respect for others’.
At Marsh Hill, children learn respect through;
- The promotion of positive relationships
- The modelling of positive relationships by all adults working in school
- A detailed and extensive Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum in which children are taught that behavior has an effect upon those around them and upon their own rights
- The RE curriculum
- All other aspects of the curriculum (as successfully working in groups requires respect for each other)
- The work of the school council and eco-council
- The positive reward system developed to promote respect
- Our celebration assemblies when all pupils show respect for the efforts of others
- Giving responsibility to pupils (team captains, playground buddies, peer mediators, etc.)
- Participation in events organised to raise money for various charities
- Learning to live with their peers on educational residential visits.
What is ‘Tolerance of those with different Faiths and Beliefs?’
Our core value of Respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs.　 Marsh Hill Primary School enhances pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies; P.S.H.E. work; participation in celebrations such as Diwalii, Chinese New Year and Eid. We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education lessons and PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Throughout school life the children are encouraged to discuss differences between people such as their faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality. They also discuss differences in family life such as looked after children or young carers. Our weekly assemblies and class discussions about prejudices and prejudice-based bullying, are followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE and our monthly value.
We use a PSHE scheme called Jigsaw to promote these key fundamentals across the whole school. Each of the five values are mapped out across the whole school PSHE curriculum and is taught to every year group through units of works (jigsaw pieces) across their primary education.
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We have embedded a 2-year cycle where our Value of the Month is linked to the value taught through the Jigsaw unit:
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