Values Policy
“At the heart of a successful school is a commitment by the school community to a clearly articulated set of values, which enables it to strive for excellence.”
Neil Hawkes 2000
“Education is the drawing out of the best in the child – body, mind and spirit.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Aim
Great Bardfield is a school committed to ensuring pupils receive a high quality
education. This reflects a caring, committed attitude, which helps all adults and children achieve the highest possible standards.
At Great Bardfield Primary School, every individual is valued for who they are and what they contribute to the school. Values are principles that drive behaviour, influence our actions and attitudes, and become our scaffold for life. They influence our relationship with ourselves, others and our wider society.The values promoted at Great Bardfield Primary School are values which are important within the school community and which will be important throughout life. In all that we do we strive to share, encourage and demonstrate positive values with our children; in order that they understand them and grow to live by them.
Vision
“Children are at the heart of everything we do. Working together we encourage every child to achieve their full potential regardless of their ability or background.”
We want the children of Great Bardfield Primary School to become confident, secure, responsible and caring individuals who achieve personal success, develop a commitment to lifelong learning and have the potential to shape and direct their own futures.
In order to do this, we aim to provide a curriculum which is not just about subjects. We present our curriculum through high quality care, welfare, learning and teaching. Through our school vision, we encourage are pupils to learn, grow and achieve!
Methodology
At the core of a values education is a set of agreed principles and deeply held convictions that underpin all aspects of school life and work – for everyone.
“The best way to transmit values is by example.”
Values are not dependent on race, culture, class or religion. The process of Values Education is holistic and developmental. Children need to have planned opportunities to explore, develop, practise and internalise lasting spiritual and moral values, in order to be prepared for the responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
Values
At the heart of our school are a set of core values. These underpin our whole curriculum and school life.
Our School Values are:
- Respect everyone
- Be kind and helpful
- Always try your best
- Never be afraid to make a mistake
- Always tell the truth
- Always be ready for learning
- Look after people who are younger or less able than yourself
Through a Values centred education, the community of Great Bardfield Primary School aims to:
- Provide a calm and caring community where all children and adults are valued equally.
- Raise expectations and secure positive attitudes to learning.
- Achieve a real, measurable and beneficial difference in behaviour and conduct.
- Strive for happiness and a positive, responsible attitude towards school life.
- Ensure pupils and adults are challenged to reach the next step and reach their full potential.
- Achieve the highest standards possible in supporting pupils to achieve.
- Encourage pupils to become creative and independent learners, using a variety of learning styles.
- Promote values to pupils in every aspect of school.
- Develop self-confidence and self-discipline.
- Respect and value others.
- Have excellent support and guidance from all staff in partnership with parents and governors.
- Encourage our school community to make healthy choices.
- Have a personal pride in being part of our school and the wider community.
- Staff to model the school and fundamental British values such as mutual respect, tolerance and the law.
For all staff working in the school to:
- Have high expectations of what each child can achieve.
- Teach effectively, using a suitable approach, allowing children to learn and understand whilst offering support and challenge.
- Promote values in the way in which adults interact with each other and pupils.
- Uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour.
For the curriculum to:
- Teach a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum.
- Teach the National Curriculum to all children at all levels, according to their age and ability.
- Ensure children are prepared to become responsible citizens.
- Provide planned opportunities that develop attitudes and skills of pupils.
Expected outcomes:
- Qualitative improvement in pupils behaviour and attitudes.
- Quantitative improvement in standards and academic achievement.
- Improved ethos, relationships and pupil behaviour.
- Improved working conditions for children and staff.
- A curriculum that develops spirituality and enables children to develop as reflective and responsible learners.