British Values
At Robert Bloomfield Academy, we take every opportunity to promote British Values and incorporate them into our daily routine.
Democracy
The role of Democracy is embedded throughout the Academy. Pupils are given many opportunities to voice their own opinions and make changes across the Academy. Our students are taught to respect the right of every individual through our PSHE and Ethics and Values lessons, pupils are encouraged to have their own opinions whilst respecting other's views allowing thoughts to be heard. The House system and its vertical groups allow students to meet, air and share their views and concerns to improve the pupil experience at RBA. The Student Leadership Teams and House Captains/committees apply to serve and are elected by pupils, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action annually.
The Academy promotes the importance of democracy through
· School council and House system give pupils a voice on key areas of school life
· Mock Elections
· Pupils as learning mentors
· Pupil panels in all job interviews
· Pupil representation to Governors
· Equality Committees
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, will be consistently reinforced. Pupils will be 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. School assemblies and visits from authorities such as the Police help reinforce this message.
At RBA we promote the importance of the rule of law through
· The Behaviour Code of Conduct
· Trustee Status
· Liaison with outside agencies including Social Services and the Police when necessary
· E-safety days
· Safeguarding policy
· A strong culture of self-accountability
Individual liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Pupils can access the use of pupils support at any time and with the support of Pastoral support workers, the inclusion officer, school councillors and if needs be outside agencies. Pupils feel that they are supported and listened to. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms. They are regularly advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our e safety days, tutor times, E4L lessons and year and whole school assemblies. Whether it be through our curriculum options that we offer or what our pupils choose to participate in from our numerous enrichment activities and house competitions, pupils are given the freedom to make choices that they will benefit from throughout their lives.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is fundamental at Robert Bloomfield Academy. Our pupils learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others around them. This is evident when walking around the Academy and in the classrooms. All members of the school community treat each other with respect and this is clearly seen through the positive relationships between pupils and staff.
In school we promote the importance of mutual respect through such things as:
· Behaviour policy and Code of Conduct
· School Equality Duty and Equal Opportunities policies
· Clear guidance on good behaviour in public areas such as the Canteen and on social media
· The RE/PSHCE/Ethics and Values curriculum helps pupils to learn about a wide range of people, cultures and beliefs and so develops their ability to make informed decisions, and to be confident in their own identity and understand and respect that of others
· Assemblies across the Academy
· External Partnerships
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Our Academy welcomes all children and families and promotes diversity. We strongly believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. Assemblies and themes of the month are regularly planned to address and celebrate different beliefs and cultures. Our PSHCE/RE/ Ethics and Values lessons, form times and day to day teaching reinforce this. We also have visits to and from different faith groups. 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.
SMSC at Robert Bloomfield Academy
Spiritual - defined as mindfulness, self-worth, self-aware, character, personality and self-reflection.
Theme of the month
Discussions/questioning – ‘What do you think about…?’
Assemblies across the school
Significant people/celebration of people
Charitable work/fundraising
Vision/mission statements
Educational visits – to/from school
Reflection/quiet time/meditation
Story time
Link to natural world - use of outdoor environment
Drama/hot-seating
Focussed reflection – poems, paintings, Thunks, candlelight
Points of View – how would X think about this?
Moral - defined as building a framework of moral values which regulate their personal behaviour. About gaining an understanding of the range of views and the reasons for the range.
Theme of the month
Behaviour codes – rules/routines/responsibilities
Lives of significant others
Discussions – ‘How would you behave if…?’
School/class charters, agreements
Role play situations – improve/drama/conscience alley
Positions of responsibility
Assembly themes
Morality tales – real success stories, Aesop, Mr Men
Extra curricular activities – upcycling, games
Decision making – school council, within lessons
Charity/community work
Children court – put a character on trial
Balloon debate
Social – defined as development of working effectively with each other and participating successfully in the community as a whole. It is about the development of the skills and personal qualities necessary for living and working together.
Circle time – ‘Work with a partner…’
Team building activities
Collaborative decision making – school council
Roles of responsibility
Leaders/mentors/buddies
Collaborative/paired learning
Links beyond the school – other schools/organisations
Role play
Extra curricular activities – Vocal zone, orchestra, teams
Circle of friends
Developing school grounds
Involvement in school rules/routines/charters
School performances
Child-initiated learning
Active learning
Thinking hats
Cultural - defined as the development of pupils’ understanding their own culture and other cultures in their town, region and in the country as a whole. Being able to operate in the emerging world culture of shared experiences provided by television, travel and the internet and the willingness to participate in and respond positively to artistic, sporting and cultural opportunities.
Educational visits
Visits to school by artists/musicians/theatres
School performances
Assemblies
Lives of significant people
Study of celebrations/customs/festivals
Special days/events (religious and non-religious)
Arts’ based events/activities
Links to communities/charities
Story time