Our School
Vision and Values
Our Vision
Building a Better Future Together
We want our children to develop the skills, knowledge and values to be a force for positive change in society. Our pupils understand that they have a voice, and that they can make a real difference to their families, school, community and the world.
Our Values
Our values of respect, empathy and cooperation are the foundation on which our school community is built. They underpin all we do and guide us in our pursuit of academic excellence, personal growth, and a supportive, inclusive environment.
“It is our collective and individual responsibility, to tend to the world in which we all live.”
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 and ambulance services 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 the 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, or of participation in extracurricular 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.
