Vision, Values and Ethos

excellence, partnership and perseverance.

At pupil level, these are interpreted as:

• Excellence - we give our best at work and at play; we aim high; we believe in ourselves; we enjoy learning; we love to contribute; we are curious; we celebrate success; we think about our learning; we are successful; we achieve well independently; we are proud of our work; we understand that there are steps on the way to excellence; we understand that excellence is achieved through partnership (working with others) and perseverance (what we do as individuals)

• Partnership – we work together; we listen to each other; we share and take turns; we learn from each other; we respect each other; we are sincere; we are good citizens of Birmingham, the United Kingdom and the world; we contribute; we are happy; we feel safe; we look after our school; we are part of a team; we are part of a family; we help each other to achieve well; we believe everyone is equal

• Perseverance – we don’t give up; we try our best; we are not afraid to make mistakes; we learn from our mistakes; we can talk about our learning; we take responsibility for our learning; we are helping to make our own futures; we can change if we need to; we can find solutions; we look forward

The School Code of Conduct:

Promoting British Values

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.  At Greet Primary School, these values are also integral to our vision and values.  As well as actively promoting British values, the opposite also applies: we would actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including ‘extremist’ views.

Below are just a few examples of how we promote British values:

Democracy

Democracy is central to how Greet Primary School operates so it is fundamental that children, parents and staff are given opportunities for their voices to be heard.  We embed this in many different ways:

• Parent surveys/questionnaires are conducted at parents’ evening and at the end of the year.  Parents are encouraged to identify what the school is doing well in and how we can improve further.  We value and take on board all suggestions and aim to address them.

• Taking into consideration the pupils’ views, The School Council is formed.  Children, who want to be considered as candidates for the School Council have to make speeches which are heard by the rest of the class who, whilst listening, consider the characteristics that are important for an elected representative.Once the speeches are finished, pupils vote in secret. The candidate with the most votes, represents the classes’ views at the School Council Meetings.  Our School Council represents the views of all our pupils. It gives children the opportunity to make their voices heard and feel part of the whole school community.

• At the beginning of each school year, pupils discuss the importance of rules and why we have them. They contribute towards drawing up the Class Rules/E-Safety rules which are displayed in each class.

• Annual pupil questionnaires where pupils are given an opportunity to put forward their views about the school.  The school aims to address the views/suggestions made by pupils the following academic year.

The Rules of Law

Throughout the year, the importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school or the country, are continuously and consistently reinforced by all members of Greet Staff.  We believe that it is vital that 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.  We address The Rules of Law in several ways:

• Assemblies

• Class Rules/E-Safety Rules.At the start of the year, each class discusses and agrees its own Class Rules and E-Safety Rules that are discussed and understood by pupils. The rules are displayed in the classroom and are referred to continuously to ensure that all pupils are able to learn in a happy, safe, secure environment.

• Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service who reinforce this message.

• During Religious Education, where rules for particular faiths are looked at and discussed.

• Subjects like PATHS and PE where there is respect and appreciation for different rules.

Individual Liberty

Individual Liberty is taught alongside The Rules of Law at Greet.  We promote freedom of choice and the right to respectfully express views and beliefs.  Providing a safe, supportive environment and empowering education, we aim to provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely; for example:

• Choices around the participation in extra-curricular activities

• Choices about how they record their learning

• Choices about what learning challenge or activity to do

• Choices about what activities to do during creative play or 'golden' time sessions

During our PATHs lessons and Personal Safety lessons, pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights, personal freedoms and are advised and taught how to exercise these safely. 

Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

Being proud and appreciative of our pupils coming from many different backgrounds and beliefs, tolerance, politeness and mutual respect are at the heart of our aims and ethos.  We pride ourselves in educating our pupils to know and understand that everyone should be treated with respect regardless of any differences we may have.  This is constantly reinforced throughout the curriculum.  Children learn that their behaviour choices have an effect on their own rights and those of others.  All members of the school community should treat each other with respect.

Below are specific examples of how we at Greet enhance pupils’ understanding and respect for different faiths and beliefs:

• As well as assemblies led by teaching staff who focus on stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures, different year groups plan and deliver year group assemblies that celebrate the different festivals celebrated by pupils at Greet.

• Our Religious Education curriculum further reinforces this.

• Children visit places of worship that are important different faiths.

• We encourage and invite members of different faiths or religions to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

• Displays promoting different faiths