British Values

As a school we will also uphold the Department for Education’s five part definition of fundamental British Values;

• Democracy – we will learn about how voices are heard and how the people are represented

• The rule of law – we will learn about how justice is done in the UK

• Individual liberty – we will learn to uphold our rights and learn how individual views are expressed within the law

• Mutual respect

• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith – we will learn to respect those who are different from us and to understand their views even if we don’t hold them ourselves

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These values are taught in lessons and in assemblies, but most importantly in action as we work together day by day and grow to become the best people we can be. Key opportunities that the children of Stepney will have to enable these values to grow and develop include;

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• The chance to visit parliament in Key Stage 2

• The opportunity to elect pupil representatives to School Council

• The chance to work in teams and other collaborative settings

• The chance to learn how to keep themselves safe from extremist views

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Democracy

Pupil voice is an integral aspect of school life at Stepney. Our pupil elected Pupil Council plays a strong role in our school. They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making Stepney a better place to learn. Pupils have input in their learning and what they would like to learn, which promotes our Pupil Voice. Pupil questionnaires and interviews are conducted regularly. Since 2010, when our head teacher set up the International Pupil Council in Hull, our pupils have been responsible for upholding and promoting democractic values on an international basis.

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The Rule of Law

Our pupils will encounter rules and laws throughout their entire lives. We want our pupils to understand that whether these laws govern the class, the school, the neighbourhood or the country, they are set for good reasons and must be adhered to. This understanding of the importance of rules will be consistently reinforced through assemblies and our curriculum. We discuss the reasons for laws so pupils may recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community including police, the fire brigade and many more. We believe that clear explanations and real life stories emphasise the importance of the Rule of Law for our pupils.

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Individual Liberty

We work to create a positive culture in our school, so that pupils are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged. In lessons, learning tasks are challenging and require cooperation, hard work and perseverance. They understand they may have to take appropriate risk and may have to congratulate and be proud of a more successful peer on some occasions. We offer a range of clubs which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our E-Safety, Philosophy4 and PSHE sessions and our safeguarding assemblues, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely.

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Mutual Respect

Our pupils learn together with respect for each other. We value and celebrate our peers, as evidenced on our website. Every pupil knows that we respect and appreciate each other no matter what differences may exist. Mutual respect is a core value of our School Aims. Without our community working together and so achieving together, our Schooll Aims could not be fulfilled.

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Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

We pride ourselves on being a strong and vibrant multicultural school with pupils coming from up to thirty different countries with as many languages and dialects being spoken. We therefore live, speak and breathe tolerance for others. This links closely with mutual respect. While we are strongly linked to St. Mary's, which is a Church of England establishment, our priest works closely with us to welcome and embrace  range of different cultures and religions.

We offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. We believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to become knowledgeable, understanding and successful citizens who can build a better local area, Hull, Yorkshire, and Britain for the future.

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​Weekly Ethos

Each week, our assemblies and pastoral work are focused on an Ethos, which links in with British Values and our termly Jigsaw PSHE theme. These also include celebrations around the world:

Also, as a Growth Mindset School we are looking at Learning Muscles. This becomes a focus and culminates with the Star of the Week awards on Fridays being based on this aspect of the Growth Mindset philosophy.