The DfE have reinforced the 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". 

At St Mary’s CE School, these values are woven into everyday life.  Our vision of ‘Learning, Transforming and Growing’ extends to all aspects of child’s life; we explore how these values underpin British society and how our children can contribute positively to society. We strive to develop a strong belief that during their time at St Mary’s, every child can help to transform and grow our local community and make a positive contribution to the United Kingdom.

Our Bluecoat School heritage ensures our children understand our important and historic past and our British Values help our pupils to develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute to life in modern Britain. 

British Values are promoted through high quality teaching, a programme of collective worship and a positive behaviour policy. We embrace the opportunities, discussions and challenges that being British entails as well as valuing the ethnic backgrounds of all pupils and families that make up our school and local community. 

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Democracy
We value the voice of our children and promote democratic process throughout the school year. The Pupil Leadership Team, whose members are voted for by the children, lead events including; charitable fundraisers; activity days to promote mental and physical health; community projects to raise the profile of the school and a call for action when they see an unjust situation. In addition to this, they help with the organisation of collective worship, sports day and are tour guides for visitors to our school.

The Pupil Leadership Team are invited to work alongside staff and governors in the employment of new staff and are regularly invited to be part of the interview process by being given the opportunity to speak to prospective candidates and to ask them questions. Democracy in action is a class-based initiative that helps children to explore the value of their vote; throughout the year there are different opportunities for the children to participate in; this maybe to select the class marble reward, nominate and vote for who receives the class Values award or simply to select the next class novel. 

The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced through our positive behaviour approach. We consistently promote high expectations of all children at St Mary’s CE Primary School. The children understand that if they break school rules or treat others unkindly, there will be consequences. These clear expectations of behaviour support our children in making the right decisions and facilitate learning. Children 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 help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty
We provide a safe and supportive environment in which we encourage all to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms while respecting that everyone else also has the same rights. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. In 2018, St Mary’s Year 4 were part of a pilot to develop protective behaviours whereby children leant that they all have the right to feel safe all the time. Safer Together was a successful project and helped children to understand their rights in terms of feeling safe. 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.

Mutual Respect
We believe that respect for others is a vital component of moral development. We encourage open discussions in all areas but especially in lessons which promote citizenship such as PSHE. We actively support all to develop their own reasoned views about moral and ethical issues. We encourage pupils to understand the rights and responsibilities as citizens within our school and wider community. 
Achievement is celebrated across the school; in Achievement assemblies, through phone calls to parents and through our website and newsletter.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Our school community is made up of people from a wide range of backgrounds. We promote understanding and appreciation of different faiths and cultures both within school and the wider world. We actively promote courtesy and good manners towards all. We actively monitor and tackle all forms of bullying and harassment. (This includes cyber bullying, prejudice-based bullying related to appearance, SEN, race, sex, religion and belief and disability). 

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs is promoted in RE as children gain a greater understanding of religious diversity and practices for those religions represented in the UK. Planning for RE is directed by the Oxfordshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. 

Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children regularly visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.

British Values in action
Each school year brings many opportunities to reinforce our British Values either British Values through our creative curriculum or through local and national events. 

​We begin our school year by celebrating Harvest. This year’s theme is about understanding where our food comes from - Year 3 and 4 enjoyed a visit to the Kitchen Gardens at Blenheim to explore how the grounds are used to supply the restaurants and cafes at the Palace.

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Remembrance Day celebrations are held annually where children purchase poppies and a minute's silence is held in a dedicated Remembrance Worship. We also attend the Remembrance Service in Banbury and lay a wreath at the war memorial.

Our Upper Key Stage 2 team develop a link with our community through a child led project.  Previously  children voted to research and explore homelessness in Banbury.  They met with a volunteer from Banbury Young Homeless Project (BYHP) to learn about why young people become homeless and how BYHP support the local community.  The children in Year 5 and 6 were so touched by the issues raised they decided to hold a sleepover to raise money for the charity.  They slept on the floor and were without home comforts and raised over £200.00 for the charity.
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​The children also produced a display for Castle Quay’s Shopping Centre, informing the local community about the issue and how they can help.

We have participated in preparing hanging baskets to brighten up Banbury and in the summer, we also participate in Planting in the Park.

We also have links with Highmarket House – a care home in Banbury.  Pre-Covid small groups of children visit the care home  to enjoy lunch with the residents as well as participating in an activity. 
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This is a flavour of our work in promoting British Values and we welcome you to visit St Mary’s to see our work in action.