Advocacy

As schools we work with a range of charities to support and advocate for others and the environment. In this way our pupils develop their sense of responsibility and take on their own projects with causes that are important to them. In this way they reflect our Bring It! vision more widely.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”- Mahatma Gandhi

“Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless” Proverbs 31:8

At St Petroc’s CE Primary School, we are courageous advocates for the common good, locally in Bodmin and Cornwall, nationally and globally. We recognise that life can be challenging and that we need to work together to overcome them.

We ensure that there are opportunities to discuss current world issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present. Examples include:

• Remembrance

• 40 Days of Lent

• Politics – General Election, democracy

• School council elections

• Refugee Week

To ensure that we and our community care, share and grow together we have been and are supportive of a range of charities in our local area, nationally and globally. Some of these include:

• Christian Aid

• NSPCC

• Children in Need

• Comic Relief

• Sports Relief

• The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal

• Food Bank

This is how the school encourages its pupils to think globally, as appropriate to context, exploring the companion links that exist between the local diocese/world Church and schools internationally.

• e.g. The children participate in a weekly Picture News collective worship. This provides opportunities to enrich vocabulary and exercise opinions in a safe way; it fosters ‘courageous advocacy’ as it gets children talking about the news within a Christian context. (see below)

• Aspirations day encourages the children to consider global citizenship

• We use PSHE to prepare children for life, helping them to really know and value who they truly are and understand how they relate to each other in this ever-changing world.

Pupils are articulate advocates of change, challenging injustice and inequality. They have regular opportunities to engage in social action projects which pupils themselves have identified to address issues of disadvantage, deprivation and the exploitation of the natural world.