Our Vision

We aim to produce responsible, caring, respectful and aspirational young people of whom we can all be proud.

Preparing Children for Life in Modern Britain

At Brimsdown Primary School we take our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain very seriously. We ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and, in particular, our RE and PSHE lessons provide excellent opportunities to deepen and develop understanding. Children embrace these concepts with enthusiasm and demonstrate a good understanding of their application to their own lives.

The school makes considerable efforts to ensure children have exposure to a wide experience beyond their local community during which these concepts are shown, through for example, sporting events and a range of visits. Their strong rooted Values-based understanding gives them an excellent platform for embracing difference.

At Brimsdown, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is clearly evident within our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and pupil questionnaires. The elections of school councillors from each of the classes as well as a democratic vote about which charities to support, are based solely on pupil votes.

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 regular school days, 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service; Ambulance etc are a part of our curriculum and help reinforce this message. The concept of the Rule of Law is also reinforced through teaching activities in our citizenship curriculum.

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 safely, through of provision of a safe environment and empowering education. 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 is through choice of challenge, of how they record, lunch options, of participation in extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy revolves around core values such as ‘respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. These ideas are reiterated through the school and classroom rules, as well as our behaviour policy. Our learning mentor gives additional support to individual children to help develop self–esteem and the concept of respect.

Respecting all 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 are regularly held. We follow the Enfield agreed syllabus for RE and use the SEAL materials to enhance PSHE teaching.