Swiss Gardens Primary School

The DfE have recently reinforced the 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.”

At Swiss Gardens we pride ourselves in our approach to building a sense of community and we have a set of coherent values that the children respect and adhere to.

Our school values of Friendship Respect Excellence and Enjoyment are presented as a motto “FREE”. Our children understand, participate in and fully endorse the expectations that run alongside our shared values.

Each year the children decide upon their own class rules. The children take part in class and Year group team building activities to ensure that they have a sense of pride in their class identity. Each class has its own distinctive character which is celebrated and there is a sense of mutual respect whilst being mildly competitive.

Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class council meetings. Council members for each year group are voted in by their class.

Children are questioned about their opinions and they are able to put forward their views about the school.

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. 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 are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.

Our behaviour policy has a clear set of boundaries, rewards and sanctions. Children know the steps to success and the consequences of “breaking” the school rules. They know that there is a fair and equitable system of sanctions and that adults will listen to all sides in a dispute.

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 young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and a broad and balanced curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices. Choice is very important in all aspects of life. Children are encouraged to make the “right choice” in varying difficult situations, to discuss the difficult decisions they may have to make and how to ask for support from adults and peers in these situations.

As a School with respect at the heart of what we do, mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others.

All members of the school community treat each other with respect.

We are situated in an area which is not greatly culturally diverse, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE, PSHE and RRSA teaching reinforce this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.

We teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process such as House Captain election, school council.

We challenge pupils, staff or parents who express opinions contrary to British values (We keep Behaviour and Racist incident logs).

We provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services by inviting important members of the community, local MP, councilors, local police officers and doctors.

Through School Council we encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school.

By teaching the children about the local Foodbank and the Worthing Churches homeless project and participating as a Fair trade school, we demonstrate how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged.

We help children learn about the rule of law we ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair.

We help pupils to distinguish right from wrong by drawing up a class charter making reference to the UN Rights of the Child.

We help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals by inviting the NSPCC in to talk about children’s rights in Years 5 and 6.

We support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence through regular opportunities to peer / self -assess and by having class assemblies and opportunities to share their learning with parents in exhibition.

We encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights by using the four school rules from which all others flow.

We model freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils and promoting critical analysis of evidence.

We challenge stereotypes and implement a strong anti-bullying culture by following a highly inclusive curriculum.

We promote respect for individual differences by helping pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life.

At Swiss Gardens we are proud to be a school at the heart of the community, we believe in demonstrating this by inviting the wider artistic and creative community to work with us, in turn this is reciprocated by how we are viewed in the local community and how we are welcomed by local businesses and community groups.

UK Parliament

Parliament Online Virtual Tour

BBC Newsround

National Trust: 50 Things To Do

Doing SMSC