At Gretton Primary School, we believe in developing the whole child; equipping them with the knowledge, skills, vocabulary and conceptual understanding to succeed in education and in later life. 

We aim to develop learners that are cooperative, confident communicators, resilient, creative, problem solvers and tolerant. These character traits are developed through many areas of our curriculum and through carefully selected trips, visitors, events and curriculum enhancements.

Developing pupil’s character allows them to achieve positive health, education and employment.  It encourages pupils to understand, value and demonstrate positive behavioural traits that makes them well-rounded citizens, to better understand themselves and work on their weaknesses along with instilling a moral compass in understanding and interacting with other people. 

We provide our pupils with the building blocks to build and grow their own strong, moral principles and core values which they can turn to later on in life as a guide to success. This enables Gretton Primary School children to develop skills and traits that help them to tackle any problem or situation that arises in their education and life. 

Through a whole-school approach, the character traits will be delivered and modelled explicitly by all staff through tailored and appropriate activities and experiences.

We promote fundamental British values and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. We actively promote British values, encouraging our pupils to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance. Ultimately, we aim to help pupils understand:

• The importance of combatting discrimination
• How we can influence decision-making by taking part in democratic processes like voting and petitioning
• Our freedom under British law to choose different faiths and beliefs
• That the law is there to keep us safe

Children also engage with the values through the curriculum, in ways that are suitable for their age and context. For example, in some subjects there are opportunities to think about traditions from different cultures and religions. Extra-curricular activities such as games teach children about the importance of rules. Pupil votes, questionnaires and school council/leadership roles are other ways that your children can have their voices heard and learn about democracy.

Our duty to actively promote fundamental British values means that we always present political views to children in a balanced way. We are also responsible for challenging prejudiced or extreme opinions and behaviour.

At Gretton Primary School, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is embedded throughout our school curriculum from the moment the children enter our Reception class. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council. The elections of the School Council members are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action. Our older children present their proposal to become a school council member to their class. Children also vote for their choice of movie for movie nights whilst EYFS vote each day for the class story.

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 rules and expectations are deeply embedded in our work every day. Our rules are regularly discussed in class and during whole school assemblies and 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 values and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Our older children participate in an annula ‘Mock Trial’ where they become either part of the defence or prosectution and gain a greater undertandung of the legal system in the UK. Our School beat officer also vsiists the school to provide workshops and lessons to different classes.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. This can be through daily choices, such as what they would like to eat that day, our book votes in class or where they would like to play at lunchtime. Children are also encouraged to make choices linked to challenge and learning activities, of how they record and present their work and of participation in our extra- curricular activities. 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 e-safety and PSHE lessons.

Mutual Respect

Our school values and behaviour policies have evolved around our Golden Rules, with one of the rules being ‘We are kind and respectful.’ Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others as do older children who have suitable, age related, tasks and responsibilities and this is reiterated throughout classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour.

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our Golden Rule ‘We are kind and respectful’ supports tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs. We enhance pupils’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through religious education studies; PSHE work; visits from others in the community and a diverse range of texts used daily in each class. Beliefs, traditions and customs from around the world are studied and celebrated. Through these activities, our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.