Vision Statement

Our Strapline:

‘Love to learn, learning to love, all different all equal’ Matthew 22:34-40

Inspired by our Christian vision.

We provide an inclusive, nurturing and ambitious curriculum to enable all pupils to feel valued and loved whatever their background, gifts, skills and abilities in a compassionate learning environment. Following the example in Matthew 22:34-40 we ensure all members of our community are loved, able to flourish and able to make a positive contribution to society.

Our vision is theologically rooted in:

Matthew 22:34-40, which is a song that the children regularly sing in Collective Worship.

In the passage from Matthew, Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is. He replies “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.”

We live and deliver our vision by:

• By incorporating the teachings of Jesus and the message of Matthew 22:34-40
• Providing an inclusive school where all children and staff are valued respected and trusted so they can take pride in themselves and their work.
• Ensuring every individual at St Helen’s knows that they are treasured and loved as a unique child of God.
• Enabling children to have the opportunity to grow confidently and investigate their Christian faith.
• Encouraging children to question and become creative and curious learners who will push the boundaries and take risks.
• Developing resilient young people who are able to adapt and relate to the changing world around them.
• Having strong Christian Values at our core, which inspires life-long learning through providing rich diverse opportunities for all in a safe, secure, nurturing and stimulating environment.
• Ensuring that all adults are highly skilled and can access high quality professional development.
• By building strong links with our local church, our families and the wider community to maximise opportunities for collaboration through shared learning experiences.

Our Christian Values

Love

Perseverance

Friendship

Trust

British Values

The DfE have recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

The government’s definition of British values (set out in the 2011 Prevent Strategy) have been reinforced by David Cameron this year.  At St Helen’s Church of England Primary School these values are reinforced habitually and in the following ways:

St Helen’s Church of England Primary School is an inclusive setting and our ethos and curriculum enables children to be independent learners, to make choices, and to build strong relationships with other children and adults. We believe that children flourish best when their personal, social and emotional needs are met and where there are clear and appropriate expectations for their behaviour.

Democracy:

Democracy is rife within the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Pupil Parliament, House meetings, House Captain, School choir and Pupil questionnaires. The elections of House Captains, is through a whole school voting process, over seen by the teachers. Our school behaviour policy involves rewards as well as sanctions as and when warranted.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout the school, 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.

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 safety, through our provision of a safe environment and building learning power.  Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect:

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy demonstrates our Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. All stakeholders are expected to adhere to the school’s Golden Rules to enable a safe and respectful environment.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Children of different faiths in our school are encouraged to share their experiences of their various festivals and ceremonies. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to come to school and share their knowledge in assemblies and in the classes to enhance learning the school.