The Importance of Citizenship at Northwood
The Staff and Governors of Northwood School are committed to providing the very best education for our pupils: providing our children with skills and attitudes that will form the foundations for a love of learning. A key part of education at Northwood is focussed on encouraging our children to become active members of society, where everyone is valued for their unique contribution and they reach their full potential.
Our aim is for the children to leave Northwood Primary School with a sense of belonging to a tightly knit community. They have the confidence, aspirations, understand their choices in life and the difference they can make as a global citizen.
By instilling the importance of citizenship at Northwood we aim:
• To help children achieve their very best and reach their full potential,
• To help pupils acquire knowledge and skills that will equip them for life in the 21st century,
• To help pupils care for each other and develop a respect for and tolerance of others regardless of ethnicity, gender or religion,
• To help pupils develop a sense of wonder and understanding and empathy with the world in which they live, work and play,
• To lay the foundations for developing good citizens of the future,
• To celebrate achievement and success,
• To promote self-esteem and help pupils recognise their own worth,
• To create an inclusive school where everyone feels valued and encouraged to succeed,
• To make each day make a difference to all our futures.
British Values
Another key aspect of our commitment to developing responsible citizens at Northwood is our focus on 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 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 Northwood Primary, we actively promote British values through spiritual, moral, social and cultural development which is embedded into our school ethos. In addition, we teach aspects of this though our PSHE curriculum, our RE curriculum and through our weekly themes, where relevant. Opportunities for the promotion of British values are identified on our PSHE curriculum overview which can be found at the end of this document.
The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. At Northwood Primary, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways.
Democracy
Democracy is promoted within a framework of rules, regulations and expectations, which are there for the benefit of everyone. Our school behaviour policy involves class rewards, which the pupils vote for as a class. Voting for a story is another example of how democracy is promoted. In KS2 classrooms, teachers ask children to participate in deciding who should be nominated for the weekly certificate.
The rule of law
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 Police; Fire Service; etc are parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
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 young people to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and 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 e-safety and SMSC.
Mutual respect
Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy is built around the principles of mutual respect, tolerance and good relationships. Pupils take part in collective worship related to what this means and how it is demonstrated. Mutual respect is reinforced through the school rules and the school behaviour policy.
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions consolidate and support what the children learn in RE and PSHE. Through our curriculum, we learn about different cultures. Members of different faiths or religions, wherever possible, are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and school.