Promoting Fundamental British Values
At Temple Guiting Church of England School, we actively 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.
These values help prepare our children to become thoughtful, responsible and respectful members of society. They are embedded throughout school life, including our curriculum, collective worship, relationships, behaviour expectations and wider school experiences.
Our approach reflects our Christian vision, Everyone to Thrive, and our belief that every individual should feel valued, respected and encouraged to flourish. We aim to help children understand their rights and responsibilities, appreciate different perspectives and recognise the positive contribution they can make to their community.
Democracy
We believe that every child's voice matters. Pupils are encouraged to share their opinions, listen to others and understand that everyone should have the opportunity to be heard.
Children have opportunities to contribute through our School Council and pupil questionnaires. School Council representatives and Worship Leaders are elected through a democratic process, with pupils putting themselves forward, explaining their suitability for the role and, where appropriate, presenting their ideas before votes are cast.
Through these experiences, alongside classroom discussions and learning about democracy, children develop an understanding of fair decision-making, representation, elections and the importance of respecting the outcome of a vote.
The Rule of Law
We help children understand the importance of rules and laws in keeping people safe, protecting individual rights and enabling communities to live and work together.
School expectations and classroom rules are discussed with pupils so that they understand not only what the rules are, but why they matter. Through PSHE, Relationships Education, collective worship and everyday discussions about behaviour, children explore fairness, responsibility, right and wrong, and the consequences of their choices.
Where opportunities arise, visits and activities involving services such as the police and fire service help children understand the important role these organisations play in protecting the public.
We encourage pupils to take responsibility for their actions, understand the impact of their behaviour on others and recognise the importance of following rules both in school and in the wider community.
Individual Liberty
We want our children to grow in confidence, develop independence and understand that they have the right to make choices within a safe and supportive environment.
Pupils are encouraged to express their views, explore their interests, make appropriate choices in their learning and participate in the activities and opportunities available to them. We help children understand that individual freedom comes with responsibility and that their choices should not harm the rights or wellbeing of others.
Through PSHE, Relationships Education and online safety education, children learn about personal boundaries, privacy, consent, healthy relationships and how to seek help when they feel unsafe or uncomfortable. We encourage them to speak up, ask questions and approach trusted adults whenever they have concerns.
Our aim is to develop children who can make informed decisions, respect the choices of others and understand how to keep themselves safe both online and offline.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is central to our Christian vision and the way we live together as a school community.
Our overarching Christian value is Love, supported by our six other values: Respect, Courage, Trust, Forgiveness, Perseverance and Friendship. These values guide our relationships and encourage kindness, compassion, fairness and understanding.
Through collective worship, classroom discussions, our curriculum and everyday interactions, children explore what respect looks like in practice. We encourage pupils to celebrate differences, listen to others, resolve disagreements constructively and recognise the value and dignity of every individual.
We expect everyone in our school community to treat others with kindness and respect. Bullying, discrimination and prejudicial behaviour are addressed in line with our school policies, helping children understand the importance of standing up for others and contributing to a safe, inclusive environment.
Tolerance and Respect for Different Faiths and Beliefs
As a Church of England school, our Christian foundation encourages us to show love, compassion and respect towards everyone. We recognise that our community is part of a diverse society and that people may hold different religious beliefs, worldviews, cultures and values.
Through our Religious Education curriculum, following the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus, children learn about Christianity and other religions and worldviews. They have opportunities to explore what people believe, how beliefs influence everyday life and why faith and worldviews are important to individuals and communities.
Where appropriate, visits to places of worship and opportunities to meet people from different faith communities help bring this learning to life. These may include visits to Gloucester Cathedral and Masjid E Noor Mosque in Gloucester.
We encourage children to ask thoughtful questions, listen respectfully, recognise similarities and differences, and understand that people can hold different beliefs while still treating one another with dignity and kindness.
We aim to develop pupils who are curious about the world, confident in expressing their own views respectfully and willing to learn from the experiences of others.
Preparing Children for Life in Modern Britain
At Temple Guiting, fundamental British values are not taught as isolated ideas. They are woven into our everyday school life and reinforced through our Christian vision, curriculum, relationships and expectations of behaviour.
By promoting these values, we aim to help our children become responsible citizens who understand democracy, respect the law, exercise their freedoms safely, challenge discrimination and value the diversity of the society in which they live.
Above all, we want every child to understand that everyone deserves to be valued, everyone has a voice and everyone has a part to play in helping others thrive.