Vision, mission, values and ethos
Our School Values
British Values
Promoting British Values at St Mark's CE Primary School
We adhere to the Department for Education's remit: “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 St Mark’s these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
We have a School Council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised. The council is genuinely able to effect change within the school. Every child on the school council is voted in by their class. Children also have an annual questionnaire where they are able to put forward their views about the school. Children also carry out a voting day where they vote for Heads of School; children listen to a speech put forward by each cadidate and then vote for the person they believe to be the right person to represent school. Democracy is taught throughout cross curricular PSHE and within class context for learning.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at St Mark's. Pupils are taught from Little Lions' Pre-school the rules of the school. These are our School Rules, Playground Rules and Class Rules. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and 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. They are also discussed within School Council meetings and with the Pupil Heads of School.
Individual Liberty
At St Mark's 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 informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. 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, cross curricular Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) lessons and workshops.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with respect.
Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
St Mark's is a diverse school and we actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education lessons and cross curricular PSHE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Our multicultural activities illustrate our commitment to exploring our diverse school community. Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. The children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. Our 5 school values are: Belonging, Love, Joy, Endevour and Courage
