In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.

Democracy

Pupil voice plays a big part in life at Langdale. Our pupil elected school council play a strong role in our school.

They are elected by their class peers and are involved in making Langdale a better place to learn. Pupils have input in their learning and what they would like to learn which promotes pupil voice. For example, the pupils decide as a class how they would like to learn certain skills in subjects and this is used to inform the teacher’s planning. Pupil questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. We know that the formation of the school council and the active participation of our pupils will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.

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.

The involvement of our pupils in the creation of classroom rules helps them to understand the reasons behind rules and the consequences if rules are broken. Through philosophical enquiry in our PSHE lessons, we provide opportunities to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so children can 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.

Individual Liberty

We invest a lot of time in creating a positive culture in our school, so children are in a safe environment where choices and freedoms are encouraged.

At times, we provide opportunities for children to choose their learning tasks during lessons and encourage them to select the task that will challenge them the most, giving them more freedom to determine their own learning. We offer a range of clubs which pupils have the freedom to choose from, based on their interests. Through our E-Safety and PSHE sessions, we educate children on their rights and personal freedoms as well as supporting them in recognising how to exercise these freedoms safely. At Langdale we believe that valuing choice and freedom in daily school life will foster a value for individual liberty as the children embark upon their adult lives.

Mutual Respect

In a school with many different languages and ethnic groups, our pupils learn together with absolute respect for each other.

One of our school values is the value of Respect, during weekly celebration certificates are awarded which reinforces the importance and need for mutual respect.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

We offer a culturally rich and diverse curriculum in which all major religions are studied and respected. Parents and leaders of different faiths are welcomed to the school to share their beliefs, while we also visit numerous places of worship. At Langdale we strongly believe that tolerance is gained through knowledge and understanding. Through our curriculum and the routines of our daily school life, we strive to demonstrate tolerance and help children to become knowledgeable and understanding citizens who can build a better Britain for the future.