Aims and values | Northwood Park

Our Aims and Values

Our aims for the children at Northwood Park:

“As proud members of SHINE Academies, we live by our SHINE Values – Strive, Harmony, Inspire, Nurture and Excel. These values have become a thread which runs through every aspect of the life of our school and enables children and adults alike to evaluate their actions, contributions and achievements. They support us all as we undertake our work. allowing us to focus on positive outcomes for everyone in our community, not just today, but into the future - and for our pupils, this means into adulthood. Our aim is to demonstrate that, by ascribing to these values, we are not only supporting the development of our students’ full potential, but also our wider community as a whole, making Northwood Park Primary School a happy, healthy and caring place to be.”

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.) Aim:

Northwood Park Primary upholds the right to an educational experience in which diverse identities, experiences and ideas are recognised and human dignity is affirmed. We STRIVE for better collaboration, work in HARMONY as stronger communicators, INSPIRE the next generation of

leaders, NUTURE greater innovators and EXCEL as deeper thinkers. From the time children enter the school, they learn to celebrate their differences and similarities, celebrate diverse role models, confront stereotypes and biases, and develop an understanding of historical and contemporary struggles and victories in the face of injustice throughout our curriculum. We aim to empower our pupils to advocate for a more just world and acquire the skills to be courageous global citizens.

Northwood Park Primary School British Values Statement

The DfE have described 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."

Northwood Park Primary School is committed to serving its community and surrounding areas. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom, and therefore those it serves. It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.

Our school, accepts admissions from all those entitled to an education under British law, including pupils of all faiths or none. It follows the policies outlined by its governing body regarding equal opportunities, which guarantee that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. It seeks to serve all.

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools. The values are:

Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
Mutual respect
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Democracy

Democracy is common within the school where the promotion of democratic processes, fostering the concept and application of freedom of speech and group action to address needs and concerns, are heard through our School Council, parent and pupil voice questionnaires. These features then feed into influencing future decisions, actions and policy.

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, Police Community Support Officers, the Fire Service etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

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 provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; for example through e-Safety and PSHE lessons.

Mutual Respect

Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around ‘Treating Others How You Would Like to be Treated’ in an environment of mutual respect. These ideas are reiterated through the school and classroom rules, as well as our behaviour policy. Additional support is provided for individual pupils, through our Family Liaison Tea. This support helps to develop self-esteem and to practise strategies pupils can employ to help improve their respect of others.

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 providing opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

Through a wide range of activities, the school secures such standards and uses strategies within the National Curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for children.