At Whitefriars we focus on a set of shared Values which help us to work with one another co-operatively and with respect. We learn the importance of friendship and unity, and how to approach life with positivity and hope. These Values make our school community happy and harmonious, a fun place, where children feel secure. Our Values are important to all pupils, staff and parents.

The whole staff team and all pupils are involved in promoting Values and recognising their positive effects around school. The Values have been selected by pupils and staff as Values which are important within the school community and which will be important throughout life.

We aim to:

• Develop pupils’ understanding of what Values are and why they are important in life.
• Encourage children to refer to the school’s shared Values when making choices.
• Use the Values of the school when solving conflict situations.
• Exemplify the school’s shared Values in our own choices.
• Display and share our school Values and encourage all visitors to take account of them in their time in the school.
• Encourage parents to support the school’s Values by promoting the ‘Value of the Month’.
• Promote positive behaviour choices by developing strong Values within the pupils at the school.

How we do it

• Our Values approach consists of two sets of 11 Values over a two year rolling programme.
• Each month a new Value is introduced through an explicit Values lesson in each class, and the full set of Values is displayed in each classroom.
• Further understanding of the Value in the context of the school and the wider community is explored and celebrated through assemblies and through the Value being promoted by all staff in every aspect of school life.
• Assembly themes will be predominantly Values based, and at the end of each month, a pupil from each class is selected or nominated to receive a Values certificate for that month.
• Circle time and PHSE lessons will be further opportunities to discuss and promote Values within each classroom with informal opportunities being utilised whenever possible, e.g. playtime.
• Our Values are shared and displayed on notice boards, on display in the halls and within each classroom. They are also visible on the school website and on our welcome screens.
• Our Values-driven approach has been commended in our most recent Ofsted inspection report (December 2010).

September

Positivity
• Focusing on solutions not problems
• Thinking about the next step rather than what went wrong

October

Tolerance
• Accepting ourselves
• Accepting others

November

Peace
• Respecting each other
• Acting with compassion
• Reflecting on your choices and actions

December

Resilience
• Moving forward positively after a problem
• Working together when things get tricky
• Trying hard not to give up or be negative

January

Democracy
• Taking part
• Listening to the views of others
• Helping make decisions
• Having an opinion

February

Love
• Giving compliments
• Doing things to make others happy
• Thanking people

March

Forgiveness
• Understanding the feelings of others
• Showing empathy

April

Freedom
• Remembering our rights and responsibilities
• Expressing yourself
• Encouraging others to express themselves

May

Honesty
• Telling the truth
• Speaking from the heart
• Accepting the consequences and facing them
• Doing what you say you will do

June

Humour
• Being cheerful if things are a bit tricky
• Enjoying a joke
• Making sure we laugh every day

July

Charity
• Thinking of people who are not as lucky as us
• Sharing what we have when we can
• Taking action to make a difference to other

September

Respect
• Being polite
• Considering the feelings of others
• Understanding that there is value in unexpected places

October

Unity
• Coming together as one
• Working together
• Remembering that two brains are better than one

November

Friendship
• Sharing with each other
• Helping others
• Looking after each othe

December

Responsibility
• Being reliable
• Being dependable
• Putting things right if there is a problem

January

Determination
• Never giving up
• Being happy when you are stuck
• Always wanting to learn something new

February

Thoughtfulness
• Thinking of others
• Being generous
• Making time to think

March

Appreciation
• Saying thank you and meaning it
• Recognising what others have done
• Letting someone know when they have done something good
• Looking for a positive in everything

April

Patience
• Not rushing
• Letting others go first
• Happily waiting for your go

May

Trust
• Being reliable
• Having confidence in others
• Giving people a chance

June

Harmony
• Striving for peace
• Working together
• Living happily with each other

July

Courage
• Being willing to confront difficult situations
• Carrying on when you find something hard
• Being strong when you are worried