At St Oswald’s we aim for all our children to leave school prepared for life in modern Britain.
We have a duty to ‘actively promote’ the fundamental British Values of:
- democracy, the rule of law;
- individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
To help prepare them to be valued members of our society.
We strive to ensure that all pupils are expected to learn:
- an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
- an understanding that freedom to hold other faiths or beliefs is protected by law;
- an acceptance that people having different faiths and beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated and should not be the cause of discriminatory behaviour;
- an understanding of the importance of identifying and combatting discrimination.
The Gospel values of love, care, consideration, mutual respect, honesty, integrity, and fairness permeate all that we do at St Oswald’s and help children to prepare, contribute to, and be valued individuals in our community and broader society.
Our school family promotes a community where all children and adults:
- respect and obey rules and laws;
- feel they make a contribution and are valued as individuals;
- respect and acknowledge the integrity, dignity, and opinions of each individual;
- nurture, establish and practice respect and tolerance of different ways of life.
At St Oswald’s, embedded in our Mission, is to ensure that our school remains central to the Parish and is forever reaching out to embrace the wider community. The importance of strong relationships between children, parents, staff, Governors, parishioners, and the wider community is at the heart of all we do. We nurture a genuine respect and pride in ourselves, our school, our environment, and our valued place in our community, town, and country.
Together, through living out the Gospel values, our school Mission, and British values, our children are empowered to achieve their full potential.
Children live out our school, Gospel, and British values by:
- aspiring to be in positions of responsibility – play buddies, school councillors, young environmentalists;
- carrying out trusted and important jobs around school – selling poppies, collecting registers, organising food for food banks;
- striving to achieve awards and commendations – class points, stars of the week, class awards, smileys;
- organising charity events – Good Shepherd, cake sales, coffee, and bingo fundraising events;
- taking part in events serving the local community – masses/services, community choir singing, ‘Mini Vinnies’, support for local refugees;
- taking pride in their work, homework, achievements, and how they present themselves;