Rights Respecting School

All relationships at North are built on respect  – mutual respect between all members of our school community. We also aim to raise children’s awareness of the world beyond the school.

For these reasons we applied to acquire the status of a UNICEF  RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOLS. and were delighted to achieve the Silver Award in March 2019. Click here to read the full accreditation report. Please also see the documents below for more information.

• Four Standards of the Rights Respecting Schools Award
• Rights Respecting Classroom Features
• Rights Respecting Schools – linking UNICEF Articles with our School Rights

Promoting British Values – Introduction
From September 2014, the DfE has required all schools to promote the historical and current values that underpin the national identity known as “Being British”. Within this, all schools are required to ensure that the curriculum actively promotes these fundamental British values.

What is “Britishness”?
British values are defined as:

• Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process
• Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England
• Support for equality of opportunity for all
• Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law
• Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs

What does ‘Actively promote …’ mean?

• Focus on, and show how, the school’s work is effective in securing these values
• Challenging pupils, staff or parents who express opinions contrary to British values

Staff and Governors of North Primary School and Nursery view this edict as an endorsement of our long-established vision and we will continue to promote successfully these values within and beyond our school community.

We will continue to celebrate:

1. Democracy

• Provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services
• Teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process
• Include in the curriculum information on the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain
• Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school
• Hold ‘mock elections’ so pupils learn how to argue and defend points of view
• Help pupils to express their views
• Teach pupils how public services operate and how they are held to account
• Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged
• Run a School Council and link it with schools councils in our consortium

2. Rule of law

• Ensure school rules and expectations are clear and fair
• Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong
• Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made
• Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals
• Teach pupils aspects of both civil and criminal law and discuss how this might differ from some religious laws

3. Individual Liberty

• Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence
• Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights
• Model freedom of speech through pupil participation, while ensuring protection of vulnerable pupils and promoting critical analysis of evidence
• Challenge stereotypes
• Implement a strong anti-bullying culture

4. Respect and Tolerance

• Promote respect for individual differences
• Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life
• Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour
• Organise visits to places of worship
• Develop links with faith communities
• Develop critical personal thinking skills
• Discuss differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as looked-after children or young carers

Governors will review annually the visibility of this policy across the school community.

“..we would like to congratulate you on the environment that you have created in the school where all the children are accepted and respected. This was particularly brought home to us with support [  ] received from his peers during spots day – he was really proud of his team’s award for the great teamwork”

“The school so clearly embodies a community which is caring and courteous, and as is evident with all of North’s students, our girls have benefitted from it enormously. Thank you so much, and we wish you every success as the school grows and moves from strength to strength.”

Letter from parent