St Wilfrid’s has an elected pupil council from year 1-6.In year 6, our Head and Deputy pupils are automatically selected after their being elected to their roles. Other classes must elect a member after submitting a written application to the council. This is used as an opportunity to promote and teach about democracy and the electoral process. The Council meets twice a month to discuss the issues raised in the green Wilf pig.

We also encourage our children to take ownership and responsibility for different aspects of school life e.g. Head and Deputy boy/girl, Prefects, Playground Buddies, Nursery Buddies, House Captains etc.

The origin of democracy is also taught through the historical research of the Ancient Greek civilisation in Year 5.

Democracy is further promoted throughout the year in various additional PSHE lessons and assemblies.

We have high expectations about the pupil conduct and this is reflected in the Behaviour policy. There are many rewards for exhibiting good and caring behaviour at St. Wilf’s through things such as: House points, Golden Table, Star Award, Marvellous Mathematician award, Reading Merit and Merit awards, VIPs, 5’W’s, class dojo points, lining up points etc.

Through our Class charters (linked to RRS), school assemblies, circle time, Life Education Bus, Safety Town and PSHE children are taught how to earn trust and respect and are supported to develop a strong sense of morality; knowing right from wrong and doing the right thing even when it is difficult.

Through our Rights Respecting Work and their Class Charters, school values and PSHE programme, children are taught about personal responsibility, choices, ambition and aspiration. They are encouraged to take opportunities to follow their interests in art, music, sport etc. Children are also taught to keep themselves safe whilst exercising such liberty, including whilst on-line. This is achieved through Safer Internet sessions, which includes assemblies and activities in February during Safer Internet Week, A Safety Day for Year 6 highlighting key issues such as bus safety, reservoir safety and knife crime before their transition into High School, the computing and PSHE curriculum topics and visits from outside organisations such as the NSPCC. Further to this, the Fire Service visits year 2 and year 6 annually to talk to the children and explain about being safe on the roads and the law. Y6 also undertake the Road Safety program called ‘Bikeability’. The Coram Education Life Education Learning Lab visits St Wilf’s annually and is a further resource that encourages children to make good life choices, keeping both bodies and minds healthy.

We have high expectations about pupil conduct and this is reflected in our Behaviour Policy. Through our Catholic ethos, school values, Rights Respecting work and Class Charters, PSHE and circle time children are taught to respect each other, to be cooperative and collaborative, be supportive and to look for similarities while being understanding of differences. Mutual respect is also promoted through additional PSHE lessons and assemblies. Class and Playground rules are agreed with the children and are displayed in classes. Timetables for playground games have been drawn up, allowing children the freedom to play on respected days. Specially selected GIFT Chaplains in Y5 & Y6 further enhance our work on mutual respect.

We have high expectations about pupil conduct and this is reflected in our Behaviour Policy and Equality Policy and Action plan. Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs is promoted through our Religious Education curriculum ‘Come and See’. In addition to our own Christian faith, our children study two other faiths each year. Children learn about different religions, their beliefs, places of worship and festivals. As a Catholic School, we pray our school prayer regularly, which encapsulates the very essence of Jesus’ teaching – to love one another regardless of faith or belief (‘Including everyone and having fun. Learning to live like Jesus’). Our 5’W’s award, given out weekly to one child and one adult in our school community, focus on the 5 Ws of Welcome, Welfare, Word, Witness and Worship and reflects the very nature of respecting all people.

Whole School Collective Worship is also used to educate our school community during events such as Holocaust Memorial Week. Our annual ‘Respect and Remembrance’ Y6 trip to France and Belgium and invited visitors such as Imams further develop the children’s understanding and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.