British Values
At Corpus Christi, we recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom and understand the crucial role our schools play in promoting these values. We take our responsibility to promote community cohesion, generate a respect for difference and individual rights seriously. We believe it is incredibly important that these British Values permeate through all aspects of school and children will encounter these values throughout our everyday school life.
Through the Come and See Curriculum we teach the Gospel Values and ways we can spread the good news, whilst ensuring the children understand the important role our Christian identity has in upholding British Values within our school community.
At Corpus Christi these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
As a Catholic school, we link Democracy to the Gospel values of service and sacrifice, humility and gentleness and equality.
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Proverbs 14:15
Pupil voice plays a big part in life at Corpus Christi. Our pupil elected School Council play a strong role in our school. They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making Corpus Christi a better place to be.
Caspers Councillors are also chosen to help make sure our wrap around clubs are developed by the children. They meet regularly with our wrap around manager, Mrs Whalley, and discuss how they want to the clubs to be. They take ideas from the children who use the services and help Mrs Whalley plan for the future.
Pupil questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. We know that the formation of the school council and Caspers council and the active participation of our pupils will sow the seeds for the more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.
The Rule of Law:
We use the Gospel Values of truth and justice, forgiveness and mercy and courage to help us understand the British value of the rule of law.
“For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the does or the law who will be justified.”
Romans 2:13
Our pupils will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. We want our pupils to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the neighbourhood or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to. This understanding of the importance of rules will be consistently reinforced through assemblies and our curriculum. The involvement of our pupils in the creation of the school rules and values helps them to understand the reasons behind rules and the consequences if rules are broken.
Individual Liberty:
Our individual liberty links to our Gospel values of faithfulness and integrity, purity and holiness.
“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
James 1:25
We invest a lot of time in creating a positive culture in our school, so children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. We a range of clubs, which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our E-Safety week and Computing, PSHE and RE lessons, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. At Corpus Christi we believe that valuing choice and freedom in daily school life will foster a value for individual liberty as the children embark on their lives outside education.
Mutual Respect:
Our Catholic nature means that the Gospel Values of dignity and compassion, tolerance and peace and equality are the core of our mutual respect.
“The second is this: ”You shall love your neighbour as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:31
Part of our Mission Statement 'Together we DREAM, together we Learn' is Respect. Our Mission Statement and its aims were written and discussed with staff, governors and children. We have clear aims and ideas about what Respect means and how it is shown. Images and messages around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through the classrooms and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy. Pupils will challenge each other when not showing respect and encourage each other to be respectful.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
As a Catholic School, we offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected.
We continue to use the Gospel Values of dignity and compassion, tolerance and peace and equality to help us be accepting of those who are different to ourselves and our beliefs.
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14
We explicitly reference British Values in our Mission Statement Aims by 'living and sharing the British Values in all of our dreams'. Through our RE curriculum, 'Come and See', we teach the main faiths and focus upon learning from religion as well as learning about religion, promoting tolerance of the belief of others. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.