SMSC & BRITISH VALUES

These include democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect for and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.  We believe British values are those values expected of anyone living in Britain, regardless of their nationality, culture or religious belief.

We place great emphasis on building positive relationships in school, amongst the students themselves and between staff and students. We strongly believe students should not merely be taught such values but that they are embedded in school life and how we do things.

We strive to support our students to develop into confident, positive and aspirational young adults who have empathy towards and an understanding of those in the world around them.

The information below reflects how CP Riverside School works to promote positive values through the ethos of the school, a broad and balanced curriculum and through social, moral, spiritual and cultural development.

Mutual Respect

At the heart of our school is a commitment to our Character Traits – a set of core attitudes that we believe contribute to individuals being able to live happy and successful lives within the communities to which they belong. Our Character Traits are taught through Character Education lessons as well as individual mentoring sessions and form a key part of our daily conversations around the school.   Respect is promoted throughout school and it is deeply embedded in all that we do at the school.  Our students know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.  Respect underpins our work every day both in and out of the classroom. Our school frequently participates in activities that promote mutual respect including educational visits, work experience, enrichment activities and visitors visiting CP Riverside. 

Tolerance of Those with Different Faiths and Beliefs

Our CP Riverside Way, character traits and school culture ensure tolerance and acceptance of those who have different faiths and beliefs.  CP Riverside School increases students’ understanding of different faiths and beliefs through its diverse curriculum, in particular our Ethics and Citizenship sessions, debates and welcoming visitors into school for many different reasons.  Being located close to the City Centre allows students to observe different cultures and religions on a daily basis.  This in itself is a huge positive when challenging negative stereotypes or deep-rooted beliefs that have been passed on by previous generations.  CP Riverside is committed to working closely with the local community and organisations that champion equality, diversity and a tolerant society.

Democracy

Democracy is embedded at CP Riverside.  Our students are always listened to by adults and are asked to listen carefully and with respect to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard.  Students also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our CP Parliament and regular student feedback opportunities.  The elections of the CP Parliament members are based on staff and student votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action. In addition, we organise debates on issues of current affairs and teach students how to articulate their opinions appropriately whilst listening and taking on board the opinions of others.

The Rule of Law

The importance of laws and expectations whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout our school day and also when supporting the improvement of behaviour in school. We encourage our students to distinguish right from wrong and help them to understand that living under the rule of law protects everyone.  Our students 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.  Our restorative practice approach enables us to resolve conflicts effectively and efficiently without needing to impose sanctions and allows students the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and feel supported in making more positive choices in the future. 

Individual Liberty

Within school, students 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 our students to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. We support students to develop their knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.  Our students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our Personal Development lessons as well as individual mentoring sessions. We implement a strong anti-bullying culture and pride ourselves on being an inclusive setting for all staff and students.