Cecil Gowing Infant School is committed to serving our community. Our school recognises the multi cultural, multi faith and ever – changing nature of the United Kingdom and those it serves. Our school understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
Cecil Gowing Infant School is an inclusive school and accepts admissions from all those entitled to an education under British Law, including pupils of all faiths or none. We follow the policies outlined by our Governing Body regarding equal opportunities, which guarantee that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. It seeks to serve all.
The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools. The government set out its definition of British Values in the ‘Prevent Strategy’ – values of:
- democracy
- the rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect
- tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Cecil Gowing Infant School does, through a wide range of activities, secure such standards and uses strategies within the School’s Curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for children.
Should you feel that our school is not meeting this requirement, please contact the Headteacher. Also, if you feel that anyone working at our school is, intentionally or otherwise undermining these values, you should speak with the Headteacher.
Examples of strategies and activities which support our British Values Statement are:
Democracy
✓ Children vote for representatives of our School Council
✓ The School Council follows democratic processes during meetings
✓ We have links with local PCSOs who visit school at times to talk to the children about how the police can help them.
Individual Liberty
✓ Children are actively encouraged and supported to make good choices
✓ We follow the Nurtured Heart Approach which promotes making good choices with an understanding of consequences
✓ Children are given opportunities to make choices through our school and after school clubs
Mutual Respect
✓ Sports activities promote an attitude of equality and fairness
✓ Our PSHE curriculum embodies values of mutual respect, for example, through learning about relationships
✓ Showing Respect is one of our School Golden Rules and also an aspect of ‘Greatness’ which is a part of our Nurtured Heart Approach
The Rule of Law
✓ We have links with local PCSOs
✓ We have a clear Behaviour Policy which is understood and followed by all stakeholders
✓ We regularly review behaviour incidents in school and share these with key stakeholders
✓ Assemblies offer opportunities to discuss the law, eg) Safety Awareness and E- safety Awareness
✓ Assemblies offer opportunities to focus on National and International events
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs
✓ Our RE curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on a range of faiths, religions and cultures, including Christian values
✓ We have a small number of EAL children and actively use school resources to promote their learning and integration into our school community
✓ We have visitors from other faiths, including parents, who share their language and culture with our pupils
✓ When we have staff in our school who are from other faiths and cultures, we are able to use their knowledge and skills to strengthen our pupils knowledge of other faiths and cultures
✓ We have a range of resources available to use in school to promote learning about similarities and differences
✓ We provide the children with an understanding of the main festivals and key dates of significance to British culture eg) Remembrance day and the Queen’s birthday