At Mercenfeld Primary School we value the diversity of backgrounds of all pupils, families and the wider school community. Our school is a safe, caring, stimulating learning environment where the effort and achievement of every single child is celebrated and valued.
Working closely with pupils, parents and the wider community our team encourage children to develop into confident and compassionate young people with a strong sense of belonging. All pupils experience a relevant and broad curriculum that supports and challenges them in equal measure.
At Mercenfeld Primary School we aim to promote and reflect British Values in all that we do. Therefore, many of our Focus Education and Cornerstones Imaginative Learning Projects promote aspects of British Values. An example of these can be seen in EYFS/Year 1 when children explore ‘Difference’, whilst in Year 6 pupils learn about people from another culture in the lively ‘Halo Mexico’ topic. In addition to these projects, whole school learning activities are planned to develop pupils’ awareness of British Values, such as ‘Fair Trade Fortnight’ and through exploring the work of famous artists including female and black artists.
Democracy
Democracy is a core value within our school. Members of the School Council are voted for by the pupils each year and work hard to promote tolerance and understanding through school. Pupils are encouraged to debate topics of interest and expressed their views, knowing that they will be listened to. The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are reinforced throughout the school day as well as assemblies. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, so that they have an understanding that they are there to govern and protect us, the responsibilities that come with this and the consequences when laws are broken.
Individual Liberty
At Mercenfeld Primary 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 empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety lessons, PSHE sessions and Relationships Education.
Pupils are given the freedom to make choices in a variety of ways. For example, they have choice of challenge in lesson, participation in our range of extra-curricular clubs and fund-raising opportunities.
Mutual Respect
Children learn that their behaviour has an impact not only on themselves, but others. Our lessons and extra-curricular activities actively promote an attitude of equality and fairness by valuing each child’s contribution. Mutual respect is modelled by the staff’s own conduct and is reiterated through our classroom and playground expectations, as well as our behaviour policy.
Respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
Respect is a core value of our school. The pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to and by everyone; adults and children. We enhance children’s understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. The main religions are studied during RE lessons, whilst an understanding of prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been explored and supported by learning in RE, PSHE and assemblies, as well as some of our Cornerstones projects including ‘Children at War’.
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