At Holywell Primary we believe in the concept of lifelong learning and in the idea that both adults and pupils learn new things together.  At Holywell Primary learning is defined as:  The process of acquiring the essential Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills and Habits required for deep understanding.

Our vision and values are at the core of everything we do. They underpin our teaching and learning, and provide an environment which prepares our pupils as confident, happy citizens.

We aim to provide a happy, safe and stimulating community where each individual is valued and respected and in turn takes responsibility for their actions.  By working together we believe the whole school community can create the culture necessary for each child to achieve their full potential.

Everyone in the school is entitled to three basic rights: the right to learn; the right to be treated with respect and the right to be safe. 

At Holywell our vision is ‘To Recognise and Realise Aspirations’.  

We aim for all our pupils to be:

We want all of our children to be independent learners and thinkers, challenging themselves to achieve higher in all areas of the curriculum and beyond and to strive to be the best they can be.

CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

At Holywell Primary we respect the rights of the children and adults in our school family, community and beyond and aim for each school policy to adhere to articles from the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

As part of our whole school vision, we are working towards the following articles:

• Article 3 - The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all things that affect them
• Article 13 - Every child must be free to say what they think and to seek and receive all kinds of information
• Article 28 - Every child has the right to an education
• Article 29 - Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full
• Article 31 - Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities

British values

We aim to actively promote British values in school to ensure our children leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Children 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 Holywell, these values are reinforced regularly and are incorporated into our daily life together through our curriculum and we work on these in the following ways:

Democracy

Democracy is richly embedded within the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and UNICEF Ambassadors, pupil questionnaires or meeting with the Headteacher. Our school behaviour policy involves rewards and consequences; this is shared through all aspects of school life and also shared with parents, carers and children from Reception to Year 6.

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 collective worship time. 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 and Fire Service are a regular part of our calendar events and help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for all pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and an empowering approach. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our Online-Safety and PSHE lessons. Pupils are further empowered through being part of a School Council where pupil voice is important. Pupils are given the freedom to make a wide range of choices from attending extra-curricular clubs to supporting fundraising events.

Mutual Respect

As a school which holds values at the core of its ethos, our School Vision and Behaviour policy have evolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and collective worship related to what this means and how it is shown. Respect is one of our values taught within lessons, collective worship and within the ethos of becoming a ‘Rights Respecting School’. It is shared with home through newsletters and website information. Adults throughout the school model, demonstrate and promote respect for others as do older children who have suitable, age related, tasks and responsibilities and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

At Holywell Primary School we are becoming an increasingly culturally rich and diverse school where children have unique opportunities to learn from each other by sharing and celebrating their different faiths and cultures. Collective worship and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed up 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.