Democracy is clearly evident within our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Pupil Leadership Team and our Head Girl and Head Boy; all of whom are elected annually.  Our senior team also speak with pupils on a regular basis, and in different contexts, to seek their views about their school, their learning experiences and what school looks like for them. This contributes strongly to pupils’ confident attitudes and to developing respect for others’ ideas. Our pupils also play an important and active part in teacher recruitment.

The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, is consistently reinforced as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school Collective Worship. 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service are regular parts of our curriculum provision and help reinforce this message.

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 young pupils to make choices safely, through our provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are given advice on how to exercise these safely, for example through e-safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of academic challenge, of how they record, of participation in extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

All our policies (behaviour, anti-bullying, equalities and diversity) reflect our vision ‘Let your light shine’, accepting each individual as unique, created in the image of God and treated and valued equally. Through our curriculum we seek ways to explore and celebrate diversity in all its forms and the pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people e.g. those of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and family situations. They are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures, faiths and ways of life and through our culturally rich curriculum, all major religions are studied and respected. We follow the locally agreed RE syllabus and our programme of study includes visits to and developing links with people of other faiths and beliefs. Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour and this is supported through Collective Worship and discussion in RE and PSHE lessons.