Castle Academy Astrea Academy Trust
We are proud to be a primary academy which has firm roots in the local community. Many of our children’s parents and grandparents attended Castle Academy and there is a rich history surrounding the school.
We believe that our curriculum should educate children about their role within the community and the positive impact they can have on their own lives and those around them. Therefore our curriculum is built upon a foundation which aims to develop a strong sense of self, of the local and wider history.
We believe that our children should have access to as many opportunities as possible so that they develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the world and what is possible. We tell our children to aim high- they are the future and they can make a difference.
We believe that our children should be exposed to activities and situations where they develop a broad range of skills, an understanding of diversity and tolerance. Team working is a vital skill as is the confidence to stand proud – our curriculum aims to develop both of these aspects.
At Castle Academy we ensure that through our school vision, values, rules, curriculum and teaching we promote tolerance and respect for all cultures, faiths and lifestyles. We have a duty to prepare our children for life in modern Britain and to keep them safe.
We value the importance of the current Ofsted guidance:
” Schools should ensure that they and the school promote tolerance of and respect for people of all faiths (or those of no faith), cultures and lifestyles; and support and help, through their 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.”
British Values
Examples of how fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, are actively promoted at Castle Academy include:
- Pupil Voice activities, including School Council, Sports Council and Eco Council.
- Personal, Social and Health Education ;
- Religious Education (RE) lessons;
- Healthy Schools initiatives;
- Year 6 monitors;
- Discussion within curriculum subjects;
- After school clubs;
- Assemblies;
- Charity work;
- Golden Time;
- Weekly assembly linked to an element of British Values
- Themes days and weeks;
- Educational visits and other Learning Outside the Classroom;
- Sporting events.
Throughout the year, we celebrate being part of Britain by learning about events such as Remembrance Day. In addition, we also take part in key British celebrations such as Royal Weddings, the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee. For such events we hold special celebrations within school and talk about how these relate to being British.
At Castle Academy pupils and staff fundraise throughout the year for various charities such as Comic Relief, Sports Relief, Children in Need and The Royal British Legion. We see this as an important part of our social and environmental commitment to helping local, national and international charitable organisations.
At Castle Academy we promote British Values in the following ways:
The Rule of Law:
At Castle Academy the importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. Pupils have also been involved in reviewing and rewriting the School Rules and as a result of their involvement, pupils demonstrate a sense of ownership of the rules.
The Prevent Duty:
From 1 July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism” This duty is known as the Prevent duty.
Please click on the link below to download a copy of the Parent Pamphlet on the Prevent Strategy.
Democracy:
At Castle Academy children are responsible for electing the members of our School Council. Every pupil has a voice that is listened to and they demonstrate how democracy works by actively promoting the democratic process and voting for the School Council members. The School Council members meet on a regular basis to discuss current issues and then report back during Class Council meetings.
We hold termly elections for our School Council, Eco Council and Sports Council.
Individual Liberty:
At Castle Academy pupils 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 young pupils to make choices safely, through of provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
At Castle Academy we recognise the importance of Religious Education to develop pupil’s sense of value and identity allowing each child a sense of belonging within society. Pupils are encouraged to develop a sense of value of other people and a respect for moral and legal obligations, fairness and justice. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying are regularly held. We follow the Doncaster Agreed Syllabus for RE and use the Thrive to enhance teaching of PSHE.
Mutual Respect:
At Castle Academy our school ethos and behaviour policy revolves around core values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. These ideas are reiterated through the school and classroom rules, as well as our behaviour policy.