Our Vision
Proud to be Heatherbrook
At Heatherbrook Primary Academy we are proud of our school and our community and we are all, everyday, striving to be the very best that we can. We want our children to be amazed by the world around them, to become curious, to ask incredible questions and get incredible answers, to be problem solvers, thinkers, dreamers and doers and leave our school knowing that so much is possible if they have aspirations and work hard to achieve their goals.
Creating a curriculum that is inspiring, exciting and more importantly, gives the children access to experiences they would not otherwise have, both inside and outside the classroom is one of our strengths.
Our wider curriculum reflects our community and that of the wider world. Through the development of skills and acquisition of knowledge we aim to prepare children well for the next stage in their education and to ensure they have the understanding in order to keep themselves and others safe and healthy, both physically and mentally.
Parents will be given advice on how to support the children at home in a way that builds on and enhances the children’s learning in school through the use of curriculum overviews, parent/carer meetings and information sharing sessions.
We aim to teach children how to grow into positive, responsible people, who can work and co-operate with others. We hold regular information sessions to provide further information to parents and carers throughout the year so we can all work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for the children at our school.
Promoting Fundamental British Values at Heatherbrook
In accordance with The Department for Education we actively promote British values in our school to ensure young people leave us prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance, and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is 'right' and 'wrong', all people living in England are subject to its law.
The Key Values are:
- democracy
- rule of law
- individual liberty
- mutual respect
- tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
At Heatherbrook, we prepare children for life in modern Britain. The British Values are discussed, emphasised and underpin the ethos and work of our school. Our curriculum and assemblies allow the opportunity to deepen children’s understanding of, and show the importance of British Values.
The school makes considerable efforts to ensure children have exposure to wider experience beyond their local community during which these concepts are shown. This, for example, may be through; sporting events, a range of visits and visitors, and use of outdoor education centres.
Democracy
Democracy is embedded at our school through a range of contexts. Pupils have the opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas through our School Council, who meet regularly to discuss a range of topics regarding our school. The elections of the School Council are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action. Pupils are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard.
Our School Council had the opportunity to refine the school menu to their desired taste. They had a food tasting session and then voted for their favourite options to form the whole school menu.
The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern 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 PCSO, fire brigade and local Councillors show how the rule of law is fundamental to our society.
Individual Liberty
At our school pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms. As educators we provide boundaries for young pupils and encourage them to make choices in a safe manner, for example through our Internet-Safety and PSHE lessons. In a variety of contexts, pupils are given the freedom to make choices. For example, they choose which extra-curricular clubs they would like to participate in and in some lessons they are able to choose the way in which they present their learning.
Mutual Respect
At our school mutual respect is a key value underpinned by our Heatherbrook Way Curriculum. Both staff and children demonstrate this on a daily basis and children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. This is reinforced by teaching children about the expected behaviours when out in the community for example visiting places of worship, theatres or at the library. Through teaching across the curriculum, for example when being taught about the Civil Rights Movement in History or Protected Characteristics in PSHE, pupils are taught to challenge the views of others respectfully.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
At our school we place a great emphasis on promoting the understanding of diversity with the children. Assemblies are regularly planned to promote tolerance of differences either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforces this. Children and staff who are members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.
Prevent
Radicalisation is defined as the act or process of making a person more radical or favouring of extreme or fundamental changes in political, economic or social conditions, institutions or habits of the mind. Extremism is defined as the holding of extreme political or religious views. We rely on our strong values and ethos to steer our work and ensure the pastoral care of our children protects them from exposure to negative influences.
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