Play. Learn. Achieve.
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Kirkheaton Primary School Strategy
Kirkheaton school’s core business is academic excellence. This is a given.
Alongside this, we want school to be somewhere children are allowed, encouraged and shown how to experience the magic of being a child. We want to provide an inspiring and nurturing environment which gives our pupils a safe space to be children, feeds their curiosity and which fosters a love of learning. We want this happy childhood to sow the seeds for a positive and contented adulthood.
We want them to play, to explore, to discover, to succeed, to try, to grow and to flourish. To be themselves and respect the right of others to be a different kind of self. We want each individual to know that they are valued and loved for who they are and for who and what they aspire to be but we also want to build resilience for when things don’t go as they would wish. We want school to be somewhere our children feel confident enough to make mistakes and learn from them. We want to challenge them to do new things, learn from new experiences and to cultivate their own ideas without fear. In this way, we enable them to discover their own strengths and passions. We want them to feel proud of themselves, their peers, their school and their community and most of all, we want them to be happy. Because happy children grow into happy, rounded adults who are able to find a place in our ever-changing world.
All the adults in our school acknowledge the need to act as good role models for the children. ‘Children are great imitators. Let’s give them something great to imitate’.
KIRKHEATON SCHOOL’S DEFINITIONS:
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
This is more than just grades, it’s the ability to perform, achieve and excel whilst developing capabilities and skills. The ability to communicate effectively, be numerate and literate; to develop talents and expertise across a wide range of subjects in accordance with each child’s interests and ambitions. Each child achieving their full potential in every area of learning.
HAPPY CHILDHOOD
Childhood is a precious, short-lived time of innocence and should be free of stress and worries. It is play, exploration, fascination and learning from the outcomes of your actions. It is being loved, becoming confident, pretending, being imaginative and not being afraid. It is a time to learn and experiment with feelings, emotions and relationships and to learn about rights and wrongs.
ROUNDED ADULTS
Rounded adults are caring, self-confident, happy, empathetic, fulfilled, content and resilient. They act responsibly, honestly and with good moral judgement and have a respectful, open-minded and accepting attitude to others. They are independent, fun-loving, motivated, proud, and skilled across many areas.
Indications which will show governors that school is on track to achieve the vision
What will we look for? |
Where will we see this? |
Are children being given opportunities to enjoy their childhood?
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Lesson QA information Governor visits Head Teacher’s report Asking the children Asking the staff |
How are the plans to develop the curriculum broadening children’s experience and skills?
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Curriculum maps Teacher’s planning Head Teacher reports Governor visits Looking at books/learning evidence |
Do topics develop children’s beliefs and adoption of British Values?
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Talking to the children Governor visits Topic/curriculum maps Book scrutiny |
What is school doing to build self-confidence, self-assurance and resilience – being happy in your own skin?
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Talking to children Looking at lesson planning/evidence in books Governor visits Head Teacher’s report |