Farsley Farfield is a moral place: we explicitly teach, model and expect high standards of manners, behaviour and mutual support. Our pupils and wider school community regularly show compassion and active support for those less fortunate than themselves: at home and abroad. Our Learning Hive underpins our assemblies, systems, PSHCE lessons and overall ethos.
The six elements of our Learning Hive are:
The ‘Be a Good Citizen’ statement is explored in lessons and assemblies and includes:
- Participation (in school events, school democracy, community)
- Religious tolerance, understanding and valuing similarities and difference.
- Commitment to action: ‘To be good, you must do good things’.
- Environmental awareness and activity.
- Commitment to equality in all its forms and an awareness of the history of the struggle for civil rights in the UK and across the world.
- Age-appropriate awareness of current affairs.
Assemblies recognise British saint days and also a wide range of religious festivals. Each week, we have an ‘Ethos Assembly’ focusing on the ethos statement for that week (displayed on the front of the website).
Specific themes
Democracy
Democracy is clearly evident within our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and pupil questionnaires. Our school behaviour policy includes rewards which the pupils have discussed. Members of the School Council are elected annually. Our Wednesday KS2 class assemblies include current affairs and awareness-raising of issues around the world. KS2 assemblies regularly raise awareness of how people in the past have struggled to achieve civil rights and democracy in the UK and across the world.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school or the country, are consistently reinforced 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 and Fire Service are regular parts of our curriculum and help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty
Within school, 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 are given advice on how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it is through choice of academic challenge, of how they record, of participation in extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
We regard the ethnic mix in the school as a great strength and cause for celebration. All religious celebrations are held in positive regard and are acknowledged in class and assemblies. Anti-racist messages are high-profile in assemblies and children are very clear that racism is not tolerated; to a large extent, the children are able to enforce this themselves where necessary. We follow the recently revised RE local curriculum, and our programme of study includes visits to a wide range of religious buildings.
