Northleigh is committed to serving our community. We recognise the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom.
We also understand the vital role we have  in ensuring that groups or individuals within our school are not subjected to intimidation radicalisation or bullying.
We  follow equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar.

Promoting British Values at Northleigh CE Primary School

The Department for Education states that there is a 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."

The government set out its definition of British Values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.

Democracy

Democracy is embedded at Northleigh CE Primary School. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. We empower our pupils by giving them opportunities to be 'change makers' about the things that they believe to be important. We have a conscious focus on pupil voice and value the input of our pupils by listening and responding to that voice, demonstrating that we support democracy and liberty.

Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our Pupil Parliament. The elections of the Pupil Parliament members and House Captains are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action. The Pupil Parliament is able to genuinely effect change within the school. Parliament members for each year group are 'voted in' by their class, our Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister are voted in by the whole school. Pupil Parliament meets once a week.

The children also learn about how voting and the making of new laws happens in the Houses of Parliament and Democracy is modelled by each teacher, ensuring each child has an equal right to be heard and listened to.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced. Our school has rules which are deeply embedded in our work every day. Each class also discusses and sets its own set of guidelines that are clearly understood by all and seen to be necessary to ensure that every class member is able to learn in a safe and ordered environment.

Our pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws (and rules) are broken. Pupils are helped to learn to manage their behaviour and take responsibility for their actions . Staff are committed to providing a consistent environment within the school and beyond. We help pupils to understand the connection between actions and consequences.

This type of environment enables pupils to feel safe and secure; in turn, this promotes the optimum conditions for learning to take place.

Individual Liberty

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 our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our  internet safety and PSHE lessons.

Whether it is through choice of challenge; of how they record; of participation in our numerous extra-curricular activities; our pupils are given the freedom to make choices. Learning to do things independently is an important part of learning to understand yourself. At Northleigh CE Primary School, we believe that by engendering a caring and supportive environment and by teaching pupils to be independent and respectful we can boost and nurture a healthy self-esteem and independence to prepare our learners for the next stage in their education and beyond.

Mutual Respect

The pupils know and understand that it is expected  that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small. The value of respect at Northleigh CE Primary School underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom.

Respect is one of our core Church values and we take time to explore it with the children.

Pupils take part in discussions and assemblies related to what respect means and how it is shown. Respect is promoted through our classrooms and rules, as well as our behaviour policy.

Our curriculum offers pupils the opportunity to practice listening, learning and thinking about others in a respectful environment.

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

At Northleigh CE Primary School each person is respected and valued equally without regard to ability, gender, faith, disability, heritage or race.

Cultural appreciation and development forms part of our curriculum. We place great emphasis on providing encounters and participation in events and celebrations to broaden all pupils' experiences and awareness of others. We have long standing links with Darajani School in Tanzania which support our children's broader experiences on a global level.

Collective Worship and topics are regularly planned to reinforce tolerance and understanding either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE curriculum provides a broad and balanced education and experiences on a range of faiths, religions and cultures. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school, and educational visits to places of worship for different religions are strategically planned during a child's time in our school.