Richard Cloudesley School

This is a picture taken from above of all of our students.

At Richard Cloudesley School we value the diversity of backgrounds of all pupils, families and wider school community.

The Department for Education states that there is a need:

“To create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs”.

The Department for Education defines British Values as follows:

• Respect for democracy and support or 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

Our school reflects British values in all that we do.  We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world.  

At Richard Cloudesley School, we actively promote British values in the following ways:

DEMOCRACY

"What makes a good TA?" by Faith.

• Pupil voice and communication autonomy is very important and something as a school we continue to develop and strive towards. This is a key aspect of our school improvement work.
• Pupils attend their person centred EHCP review meeting and their opinions are shared in the most appropriate and meaningful way as possible. For some pupils this means their full input throughout the meeting and for others they are present for some aspects of the meeting.
• The principles of democracy are explored in the curriculum e.g. Turn taking, sharing and collaboration, as well as during assemblies and special projects.
• School council in secondary is very well established and is working on:
• Creating a bigger space to socialise and exercise with ease;
• Having more of a canteen feel to the secondary lunch hall;
• Increasing the range of lunchtime activities;
• Introducing a tuck shop.
• Achievements are celebrated and rewards are embedded into our school culture and ethos.
• We promote a school environment where questions are valued and encouraged.
• Pupils are encouraged to be part of staff recruitment.
• We have a secondary debating group that consider topical issues and how they affect our lives.

RULE OF LAW

• The ethos and school environment promotes and encourages respect and helps pupils to distinguish right from wrong.
• Class rules are shared more frequently as and where necessary, reminding pupils of our school ethos and values.
• The Behaviour and Anti-Bullying policies set out a zero tolerance baseline for any form of aggression, abuse or violence, which extends to pupils, staff and parent and carers. We raise awareness of bullying by being part of the National Anti Bullying Week.
• Close links with the City of London Police support our curriculum work around ‘DARE’ and how to access the community safely.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY

• Our school environment is one that promotes independence and individual communication. Our aim is to work towards pupils having full autonomy. Pupils are supported by skilled communication partners to take ownership of their learning. All staff are skilled at scaffolding communication with minimal support necessary to promote engagement and achievement.
• We have regular Find A Voice days, where every member of our school community is encouraged to use an alternative voice.
• We all work to promote the pupils self-esteem and positive sense of self throughout the school day and in the wider community
• From the EYFS through to sixth form pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and are supported to learn to make safe choices that enable them to grow as individuals and reach their own potential in all aspects of their learning
• As pupils move up through the school they are supported to understand their rights and personal freedoms and are given appropriate advice to enable them to make independent decisions.
• Vulnerable pupils are supported to make appropriate decisions and staff ensure that adults supporting them are doing so with the pupils best interests. This forms the basis of our person centred approach to annual reviews.
• We conduct annual pupil and parent surveys and use the results to inform the coming year's  school improvement plan.
• We pride ourselves on a school culture and ethos that builds respect, tolerance and resilience.
• We are in the process of becoming a Rights Respecting School. 

MUTUAL RESPECT AND TOLERANCE OF THOSE WITH DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS

• Respect is one of the core values of our school.  The pupils know and understand that it is expected that respect is shown to everyone, adults and children.
• The Sixth Form run a weekly soup kitchen with the local church for homeless people.
• Pupils are helped to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other opinions, cultures and ways of life.
• Staff and pupils are encouraged to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour. All incidents are recorded. 
• We have an annual International Week where lessons focus on different cultures and countries, culminating in a celebration afternoon.
• Links and visits are promoted with local faith communities and places of worship. E.g. Members of different faiths or religions are invited to school to share their knowledge and enhance learning within assemblies and in class.
• Through the PSHE and RE curriculums pupils are encouraged to discuss and respect differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations. 
• A representative group of our pupils attend the annual Islington RE Conference.
• Displays around the school celebrate our diverse community
• Assemblies are a way of introducing pupils to a larger community group and a lovely way to share & celebrate pupil’s achievements, discuss culturally rich and diverse curriculum topics. Classes can lead the assembly in a show and tell style
• Links with our immediate community provide rich real life experiences

VULNERABILITY TO RADICALISATION OR EXTREME VIEW POINTS

The school recognises its duty to protect our students from indoctrination into any form of extreme ideology which may lead to the harm of self or others.  This is particularly important because of the open access to electronic information through the internet.  The schools aims to safeguard young people through educating them on the appropriate use of social media and the dangers of downloading and sharing inappropriate material which is illegal under the Counter-Terrorism Act. The school vets all visitors carefully and will take firm action if any individual or group is perceived to be attempting to influence members of our school community, either physically or electronically. Our definition of radical or extreme ideology is ‘a set of ideas which could justify vilification or violence against individuals, groups or self.’  Staff are trained to be vigilant for spotting signs of extremist view and behaviours and to always report anything which may suggest a student is expressing opinions which may cause concern.  Our core mission of diversity permeates all we do. We place a strong emphasis on the common values that all communities share such as self-respect, tolerance and the sanctity of life. We work hard to broaden our students' experience, to prepare them for life and work in contemporary Britain. We teach them to respect and value the diversity around them as well as understanding how to make safe, well-considered decisions.