BRITISH VALUES
British Values at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School
At St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, we believe that helping children grow into kind, respectful and responsible members of society is just as important as helping them achieve academically. Guided by our mission to, ‘Live, Love and Learn Like Jesus’, we nurture children to become confident individuals who care for others, value diversity and make a positive contribution to the world around them.
The values that underpin life in modern Britain, known as the British Values, are an important part of this journey. These are:
- Democracy
- The Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance and Understanding of Different Faiths and Beliefs
As a Catholic school, we teach these values through the lens of the Gospel and our school values of Joy, Kindness, Trust, Respect and Forgiveness. We believe that British Values and Catholic values work hand in hand, helping children to understand how they can live out their faith while respecting and contributing positively to the diverse communities in which they live.
What Does This Look Like at St Oswald's?
British Values are not taught as a separate subject. Instead, they are woven throughout everyday life at St Oswald's.
Children learn to share their opinions, listen to others and understand that everyone has a voice. They learn why rules are important, how they help keep us safe and how fairness and justice contribute to a happy community. They are encouraged to make responsible choices, develop independence and recognise both their rights and responsibilities. Most importantly, they learn to treat others with dignity, respect and compassion, just as Jesus taught us to do.
These values are promoted through our Religious Education curriculum, collective worship, personal development opportunities, behaviour curriculum, pupil leadership roles, educational visits and the daily interactions that make our school such a welcoming and caring community.
A Journey from Early Years to Year 6
Our approach is carefully planned so that children's understanding develops year by year. From learning to take turns and share in the Early Years, pupils gradually build their knowledge of democracy, justice, freedom, equality and diversity as they move through school. By the time they leave St Oswald's, they have developed both the understanding and the character needed to play an active and positive role in society.
Our full British Values Progression Document, available below, explains how each of the five British Values is taught and developed throughout the school. It outlines the knowledge, skills and attitudes children build at each stage of their journey, helping parents and carers understand how we prepare our pupils to become compassionate citizens who truly live, love and learn like Jesus.
We invite you to explore the document and discover how British Values are lived out every day at St Oswald's through our Catholic ethos, curriculum and school community.
