School, British Values and SMSC
The Ramsgate Arts Primary School is a values based learning community. We committed to educating the whole child. Our values are based around developing the children to become successful learners.
Our values are:
- Aspiration (Term 1)
- Enquiry (Term 2)
- Engagement (Term 2)
- Challenge (Term 3)
- Collaboration (Term 4)
- Diversity (Term 5)
- Autonomy (Term 6)
We believe everyone needs values to guide them through life. Without values we have no anchor, nothing on which to base our decisions and priorities and we recognise the huge role parents have to play in helping us embed our values.
RAPS core values are embedded in everything we do. We teach our values through through our daily assemblies, special values weeks and through our PSHE curriculum. Values displays are prominent throughout the school environment in the belief that a good education gives us the chance to live longer, enjoy success, create life chances, provide for a family and much more. We are confident every parent and carer wants this for their children.
Although we practise and promote each value throughout the school year, we have a 'value of the term' which we focus on as a school team. Each term, staff have training to help them embed the value into the curriculum, pupils are taught explicitly about the meaning and 'value behind the value' and pupils who use the value are celebrated. We know that when pupils leave at Ramsgate Arts Primary School in year six, they take our core values with them, enabling them to become successful, self-aware and considerate members of the community and beyond.
British Values
The DFE (Department for Education) state that:
'Schools have the responsibility 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.' (Department for Education).
The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated by the Government in 2014.
At Ramsgate Arts Primary School, we define British Values in the following way:
Democracy - We have a say in the rules
Individual Liberty - We are free to be who we are
The rule of the Law - We follow the same rules to keep everybody safe
Mutual Respect - We treat everybody equally
British Values are explored in the following ways at RAPS:
- Whole school and Key Stage Assemblies throughout the school year
- Curriculum links
- Specialist speakers visiting - e.g. on the subject of Brexit
- Our values weeks start every term. Throughout this learning, we explore the themes associated with British Values: respect, understanding of others, kindness, confidence, rules and expectations.
- Our Junior Leadership Team (JLT) meet regularly.
- We regularly conduct pupil conferencing to gather children's ideas and viewpoints
SMSC at RAPS:
SMSC stands for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development in schools.
Ramsgate Arts Primary School strives for the thoughtful and wide-ranging promotion of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Spiritual: Explore beliefs and experience; respect faiths, feelings and values; enjoy learning about oneself, others and the surrounding world; use imagination and creativity; reflect.
Moral: Recognise right and wrong; respect the law; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues; offer reasoned views.
Social: Use a range of social skills; participate in the local community; appreciate diverse viewpoints; participate, volunteer and cooperate; resolve conflict; engage with the 'British values' of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, respect and tolerance.
Cultural: Appreciate cultural influences; appreciate the role of Britain's parliamentary system; participate in culture opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.
“Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.”
One of our values is ‘Diversity’ and this goes hand in hand with the value of 'Respect' and our fundamental British Values. We actively seek to explore, exploit and celebrate what makes each and every one an individual. We believe that learning about each other in this way builds understanding and respect. It teaches us how to navigate and understand the world in which we live. It teaches us to build friendships and manage relationships. Diversity teaches us about people and culture, it broadens our horizons, builds aspiration and leads us down amazing paths of discovery.
We explore Diversity, SMSC and British Values in a number of ways:
Assemblies: Whilst our assemblies are broadly Christian, all religions are explored, compared and contrasted. We endeavour to discuss world events both past and present and we learn about important figures who have fought for equality with courage and the impact these individuals have had upon the world. Read more about our assemblies under the curriculum tab.
RAPS Topic: A key element of RAPS Topic is international mindedness. Through their topics, pupils learn about themselves, the community and the wider world. They explore traditions and beliefs of a wide range of places and people, helping them to value and understand others.
Values Weeks: Our values weeks help us to put a culture of respect, equality, courage and kindness at the forefront of everything we do. We explore each of the values at school level but also make links to wider society and life beyond school. Read more about our values weeks above.
Religious Education Curriculum: RE is taught in blocks at the start of every term. We learn about religions but also from them – making links to our own experiences and lives. The school's RE topic overview can be found on the RAPS Topic overview, under the RAPS Topic tab.
Well-Being approaches: This academic year at RAPS we have been working on strategies to support children’s emotional well-being. School is a busy and bustling place and we have identified that our children need time and space to reflect, relax and think. Our well-being team is led by our Trust SENCO, Mrs Hughes and our school WBA (Well-Being Assistant), Mrs Elliot; they have introduced a number of strategies to provide opportunities throughout the school day for children to calm and take stock of their feelings.
Worry Boxes: In every class and in the hall and at lunchtime, we provide the children with 'worry' boxes. Children can leave notes for class teachers or other staff and we will follow up on these, no matter the worry. This gives an avenue of communication but also means that children feel that they are listened to. Worry boxes are also promoted in registration time as a way for children to get something off their chest first thing, rather than it staying with them all day.
The school promotes SMSC in many other ways. Moral and social discussions are held as part of assemblies, PSHE lessons and also through some English and RAPS Topic lessons too. We engage with our local churches and religious centres and celebrate and promotes religious dates and festivals from differing religions.
Our weekly assemblies are SMSC driven and discuss issues such as racism, gender equality, tolerance for differing religions and beliefs, addressing stereotypes, speaking out and positive and appropriate behaviour. Leaders consistently advocate positive message to prevent and educate against prejudice and the school has a number of support systems in place for pupils.
Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development equips them to be thoughtful, caring and active citizens in school and in wider society.
Ask your child to tell you more about this important part of their learning and development as successful citizens!
