Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Education

Children In Need 

For Children In Need, pupils and staff dressed up in their spots for Pudsey Bear! We had lot’s of fun activities and raised lot’s of money for Children In Need.

MacMillan Coffee Morning

In September we held a coffee morning to raise funds for Macmillan, thank you to all the parents and carers who donated baked goods to sell.

Anti-Bullying Week

This year, at Rushbrook Primary Academy, we have been looking at the effects which Cyber-Bullying has on children. There was a whole school competition to produce awareness posters from Year 1-6. Thank you to everyone who entered the Cyberbullying competition.

In addition to that, during Anti-Bullying Week (12^th – 18^th November 2018) we focused on all the aspects of bullying and its effects. Children were engaged in discussions and activities in assemblies and EL lessons. The whole school joined the “Choose Kindness” motto of this year’s anti-bullying campaign, and we were all busy doing lots of random acts of kindness!

British Values

Promoting British Values at Rushbrook Primary Academy

The Department for Education state that there is a 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.”

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and these values were reiterated by the Prime Minister in 2014. The Government emphasizes that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools.

During the first half term, the British values are explicitly taught in class and phase assemblies. Each class discuss and come up with a set of their own values and make a Values Tree. This helps the children to understand what values are and why they are important to us as a school community. Our class and school values are frequently referred to whenever an example of the value is noticed by a teacher or a child, and also through our Emotional Literacy curriculum. These provide a meaningful context and help the children to relate to the above British values.

At Rushbrook Primary Academy the British values are reinforced regularly throughout the year and in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is embedded at the school. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern 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 and questionnaires. The elections of the School Council members are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action. The school council meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class council meetings. They also get actively involved in various aspects of our school life.

Pupil questionnaires are being introduced by subject leaders to priorities actions and to evaluate the success/impact of change.

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 every school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. A consistently applied Behaviour Policy is shared with the children and visible in all areas of the school. Expectations are reinforced regularly, and opportunities are sought frequently to praise positive choices. Pupils’ modelling behaviour consistent with the school’s high expectations are recognised and used as role models to others.

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern, keep us safe and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Through assemblies and the school’s EL and SMSC curriculum, children develop an understanding of law appropriate to their age.

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 our 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 advised how to exercise these safely, for

example through our E-Safety and SMSC lessons. Whether it is 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.

Positive Behaviours are taught across the school and every child is aware that they have the right to feel safe. There is a strong anti-bullying culture where children are valued for their differences and care is taken to provide equal opportunities for all genders such as mixed boys and girls football team. Stereotypes are challenged.

Time and care is taken to know each child as an individual. Pupils are supported to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence. They are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights.

Mutual Respect

Rushbrook Primary Academy is in an area which is greatly culturally diverse and we are proud to promote and celebrate our different backgrounds and beliefs. 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. The pupils know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.

If pupils show disrespect to one another, this is dealt with immediately through the school’s behaviour policy and Parents/Carers are contacted. A consistent behaviour policy is in place and children take responsibility, with support when needed, to resolve conflict and repair relationships. Time is given for this repair and restoration and to talk about the behaviour which is disrespectful to others.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our value of respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as looked-after children or young carers. We promote respect for individual differences and help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life. 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. Rushbrook Primary Academy enhances pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through RE and SMSC work. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Through this our pupils gain an enhanced understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society.

LGBT Month

February is LGBT History Month. Throughout the school this year, we focused on Different Families, Same Love.

In EYFS and KS1 we talked about the different types of families that children may have. We discussed who is in our families and talked about children who have either a mummy or a daddy, children who have 2 mummies or daddies, children who live with grandparents and also children who live with foster families. We learned that all families are special and that it is important to be respectful and tolerant of all family’s differences. We linked this to the British Values of Mutual Respect and Tolerance.

In circle time children discussed their families.

In KS2 pupils talked about the different types of families and challenging stereotypes. Year 5 thought of the ingredients of the perfect family and wrote recipes which required, for example, a cup of love, a spoonful of kindness, a dash of warmth and a sprinkle of laughter. Year 6 researched famous LGBT people and their contribution to the society and also made posters linking LGBT History Month to the British Values of Mutual Respect and Tolerance.

Peace Foundation

The children in Year 6 worked with some volunteers from the Peace Foundation, developing a better understanding of conflicts. During the workshop, the children explored the causes of conflict and how it can be driven by diverse needs and wants, and how it can be entrenched between in-groups of “us” and out-groups of “them”. Through various group activities, they also focused on understanding the impact of conflicts, gaining awareness of how they and others feel in conflict situations and the consequences of violence. Year 6 enjoyed the drama activities which enabled them to practise their problem-solving skills.

Rocket World Visit

The children in Year 5 at Rushbrook enjoyed a visit by the International Society which delivered their RocketWorld Project. During the engaging whole-day workshop, the children learned about countries from around the world (like China, Libya, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Vietnam) and did various activities, facilitated by students from the different countries. They looked at the geographical locations of the countries, their flags, landmarks, famous people, foods, interesting facts; they learned how to spell their names in different languages and asked our visitors a lot of questions!