Gorsemoor is committed to serving the community and surrounding areas. We recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom and understand the crucial role our school plays in promoting these values.

 

We encourage admissions from all those entitled to education under British law regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexual, political or financial status. We are an inclusive school and the promotion of modern British values and democracy is part of our day to day life at Gorsemoor.

 

As a school, we promote tolerance and respect for people of all faiths (or those of no faith), cultures and lifestyles; and support and help, through our words, actions and influence within the school and more widely in the community, to prepare children and young people positively for life in modern Britain.

 

We actively promote fundamental British values as part of our mission to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development for all our pupils at school. Our school vision and values support our commitment to developing the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness.

 

 

Democracy is evident throughout our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our pupil questionnaires, and via our new Pupil Leadership Team. We encourage respect for democracy by using the voting process to elect class representatives for the Eco Team. In school, our Pupil Leadership Team promote our pupil led culture where children take on key leadership roles known as 'ambassadors', who play a key part in the development of our curriculum and enrichment opportunities. We whole-heartedly value the work of our ambassadors, using it to shape school improvement at every level.

 

Our school’s Behaviour Policy enables pupils to distinguish right from wrong. At Gorsemoor, every child has the right to a happy and safe school life so that they can progress with their learning and social development. Disruptive behaviour from pupils, both within lessons and beyond the classroom, slows this progress and this is why we expect everyone within our school community to follow our Code of Conduct, which was produced by staff and pupils. The children’s feedback on this policy is vital in order to ensure that it continues to work successfully.

 

We use our pupil views to develop our school curriculum and learning environment to create a thriving school that inspires and interests all. Staff members encourage the children to share their views, value one another’s ideas and question ideas through enquiry lead learning. This is supported through our connect time and learning tools where collaboration, communication, sharing and turn taking is taught and applied in a range of contexts.

 

 

We explore the importance of laws/rules, whether they be those that govern the school or the country.  Using the appropriate pitch and language for our children, laws/rules are reinforced, particularly during school and class assemblies, SMSC and our  progressive curriculum. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws; that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and consequences when laws/rules are broken. 

 

Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to be aware of the behaviour and feelings of others. At the beginning of every year, each class creates class rules where all members of the class contribute to identify their rights and responsibilities. This is supported by the sharing of the whole school values which are embedded throughout the year.

 

We have high expectations of pupil conduct and this is reflected in our behaviour policy. Children are rewarded for positive behaviour through our privilege days linked to our ‘Good to be Green’ behaviour scheme.  Our children are taught how to earn trust and respect and are supported to develop a strong sense of morality; knowing right from wrong and doing the right thing even when it is difficult.

 

Other ways that we promote the rule of law:

* Visits to the school from our PCSO's and police to talk to the children about their role in society.

* NSPCC assemblies such as their ‘Speak Out’ campaign, with the whole school to discuss our rights and how to keep safe.
 

 

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe, caring and supportive environment. From our youngest pupils we encourage our children to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and SMSC lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, forest school activities, how they record work, selection of lunches or participation in our developing extra-curricular clubs- pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

 

Each day, staff welcome our pupils into school with warmth and a listening ear. Our pupils are all individuals and the better we know them, the better we can plan in school to be able to meet their very different needs whether academic, social, emotional or behavioural. Through conversation, playing games and encouraging modelled discussion and debate with adults and each other, our aim is to facilitate skills that our pupils will be able to use now and in the future.

 

Through our assemblies, children are taught about personal responsibility, choices, ambition and aspiration. We provide opportunities for children to develop their self-esteem and increase their confidence in their own abilities. Children are offered the opportunity to develop their own interests through access to weekly clubs such as baking, gardening, LEGO, fitness and art.

 

Other ways that we promote individual liberty:

 

* Children are offered choices in their learning across the curriculum in order for them to take personal responsibility.

* Through assemblies, the curriculum and outside agencies, children are taught how to keep themselves safe, including e-safety.

* Children are reminded of who their 'trusted adults are ins school' and can ask for help whenever they require it.

* Head Teacher awards are given for demonstrating our school values.

* Throughout the year there are many opportunities to perform in front of an audience. The children love showcasing their talents!

* Our pupils actively share their progress within a lesson and throughout their Gorsemoor journey learn how to self-assess and peer-assess their work. This encourages our children to take responsibility and pride for their work, and encourages them to always strive to do their best.

 

 

One of our core school values is ‘Respect’ and it is this value that underpins our behaviour policy. Pupils have discussions both in class and assemblies relating to what this means and how it is shown. Displays around the school promote our school values and this is reiterated through our classroom rules. We also have strong sporting values that are demonstrated through our team games against local schools and competitive sporting events that are attended. All children are taught to show good sportsmanship whether they win, lose or draw.

 

Through our PSHE curriculum, children explore how they are similar and different to their peers and are encouraged to develop tolerant behaviours, for example, respecting different views to their own and sharing with others. Respectful relationships are further encouraged by initiatives such as our Reading Buddy scheme and through our Play Leaders.

 

Mutual Respect and friendship is further explored through our anti-bullying learning. All year groups explore an anti-bullying during anti-bullying week to further develop understanding about the importance of respectful and trusting relationships and friendships.

 

Other ways that we promote mutual respect:

 

* Celebration is a key part of our school ethos. The children are encouraged to support and celebrate the achievement of others during events such as sports day, Star of the Day announcements, awarding of certificates and celebrating successes outside of school. 

* Children who are struggling with friendships can spend time with our Pastoral Support Team, who will help to facilitate discussions with groups of children, look at solutions and how to resolve issues.  The Pastoral Support Team will regularly check in with the children to ensure things are running smoothly.

 

 

 

This is achieved through activities aimed at developing our young pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Class work involves discussions and activities to celebrate our diverse community of different faiths and different cultural heritage. Using age appropriate language we aim to educate our children about prejudices and prejudice-based issues by learning in about these issues in RE and SMSC. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning. 

 

We are an inclusive school that values and promotes individuals and what makes each person special and unique. Each year we hold a 'This is Me Day' to promote and celebrate our differences. We have established effective links within the community and the children learn about belonging and their own culture. The cultures and beliefs of all our children, no matter what their cultural background or beliefs, are explored and celebrated during curriculum time.

 

Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs is promoted through the Staffordshire County agreed syllabus for Religious Education.  Children learn about different religions, their beliefs, places of worship, festivals and celebrations. Visits are made by religious leaders (Reverend) and children have the opportunity to talk about different places of worship. Throughout the curriculum and assemblies, the children mark and celebrate significant religious festivals such as Holi, Chinese New Year and Diwali.

 

Other ways that we promote tolerance of different faiths and beliefs:

 

* As part of Geography learning, children learn about different people, places and cultures.

* Staff promote diverse attitudes and challenge stereotypes through their selection of a wide range of resources and stories.

* We enjoy sharing traditional lunches at special times in the year. Our special lunch for Diwali is particularly delicious!

* We support charities and fundraise together.

 

 

Radicalisation is defined as the act or process of making a person more radical or favouring of extreme or fundamental changes in political, economic or social conditions, institutions or habits of the mind. Extremism is defined as the holding of extreme political or religious views. The Governing Body of Gorsemoor has a zero tolerance approach to extremist behaviour for all school community members. We rely on our strong values to steer our work and ensure the pastoral care of our children protects them from exposure to negative influences.

 

Gorsemoor is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its children. As a school we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability. At Gorsemoor all staff are expected to uphold and promote the fundamental principles of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. All staff and governors have undergone Prevent training.