“The values I’m talking about – a belief in freedom, tolerance of others, accepting personal and social responsibility, respecting and upholding the rule of law – are the things we should try to live by every day.’

David Cameron 2014

 The Department for Education define British values as having 5 different elements:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

At St. Anselm's, we value the diverse backgrounds of our pupils and their families. Our core Christian values align with Fundamental British Values, and we encourage pupils to consider both together. We guide our pupils through life, helping them grow into caring, responsible, and respectful adults who positively impact British society and the world. We encourage them to be creative, open-minded, and responsible, caring for others in our school, local community, and beyond.

At St. Anselm's, we are dedicated to serving our local area, reinforcing Fundamental British Values regularly. Below are some examples of how we integrate these values into our school life. These are just a few of the many ways we aim to help pupils flourish not only academically but also physically, spiritually, morally, socially, and culturally. Our goal is to prepare them for life in British society - to be morally responsible citizens with an active voice, who are informed to make positive contributions to society.

Democracy

St. Anselm's is a democratic environment for all. Both staff and pupils have a voice.

Pupils are listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern for each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We encourage pupils to take ownership of not only their school but also of their own learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility and is demonstrated on a daily basis by our pupils.

Staff contribute to school improvements, and pupils, through the School Council, leadership roles, and surveys, share ideas on enhancing school life. Many decisions in class involve pupil input, and their opinions matter. Elections for school council representatives and team captains are based solely on pupil votes.

Pupils also learn about political and social systems, including general elections, and understand their rights, responsibilities, and duties as members of different communities.

The Rule of Law

The importance of rules and laws, whether they be those that govern our school or our country, are referred to and reinforced often, such as in assemblies and when reflecting on behaviour choices.

We have a set of PRIDE Values which are in place across the school. Pupils from Reception to Year Six are taught to respect and uphold these values:

1. Personal Excellence
2. Respect and Friendship
3. Inspiration
4. Determination and Courage
5. Equality

Pupils are taught to value and understand the reasons behind the values: that they are necessary in order to create a safe and happy school environment where everyone feels loved as God’s children. Pupils are taught that each individual has a responsibility to uphold these values in order to create a harmonious place to learn and that those who do not uphold the values are subject to negative consequences, in the same way they would be in the wider community. We also reinforce these values in a positive way though mature discussion and positive rewards.

Individual Liberty

At St. Anselm's, staff aim to create a safe environment where pupils can make choices, take risks, and learn from mistakes. Pupils are encouraged to understand and exercise their rights and freedoms while respecting the rights of others.

Lessons in PSHE, online safety, and extracurricular activities teach pupils how to use their rights positively to impact their own and others' lives. In addition, collective worship supports the school's vision, mission, and values, helping pupils explore how to make independent choices and decisions that make a difference.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs

St. Anselm's is a culturally diverse school, and we believe pupils should understand their place in society and have opportunities to experience it firsthand. Our Mission Statement emphasises the importance of welcoming and celebrating everyone as part of our school community.

Respect is a core value which is a fundamental part of everything we do. In addition to this, we focus on it in lessons such as RE, PSHE, and RSE. Our RE curriculum teaches pupils about the Catholic faith and encourages respect and appreciation for other world religions, including Judaism, Islam, and Sikhism.

While promoting Fundamental British Values, we also challenge any views expressed by pupils, parents, or staff that go against these values, including extremist opinions.

By celebrating and prioritising these values, we aim to help pupils at St. Anselm's develop the confidence to take initiative and contribute to the wider community. We hope our pupils will be ready to face the challenges of the future and take positive risks.

More information about how we integrate Fundamental British Values across the curriculum can be found on the following pages.