Our whole school values were established in 2014 in consultation with our staff and children at the time. Our values lie at the very heart of our teaching and learning, and it is through these values that our children are able to develop their knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills, enabling them to reach their full potential as individuals and within our school community. The eight values which sit at the heart of our school and our teaching are:
Empathy
Respect
Honesty
Responsibility
Humility
Unity
Patience
Resilience
Our values are manifested in everything that we do and these interweave within our school vision:
Belong. Believe. Brilliant.
As members of John Blandy, the children know that they all belong within our school and they are all welcome. The children believe in themselves as much as the staff and their parents believe in them also. The children recognise that they can achieve brilliance through hard work and determination, no matter where their starting point.
Our values and our vision are displayed throughout the school. In our main school hall, you will find our values displayed in the form of jigsaw pieces. Each jigsaw piece is of equal importance; we slowly build our jigsaw together, displaying how the whole though is always greater than the sum of its parts.
Within our assemblies we will focus on our vision and values and enable pupils to share how they are living and breathing them in their every day lives. We also encourage our pupils to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of their school and communities continuously incorporating both our values and our vision.
The DfE have reinforced 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.”
The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated in 2014. At John Blandy these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways.
Democracy
Each year the children decide upon their class charter and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the charter.
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a school council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised in class council meetings. The council has its own budget and is able to genuinely effect change within the school. The council members for each year group are voted in by their class.
Children have an annual questionnaire with which they are able to put forward their views about the school.
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 and Fire Service 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 advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
John Blandy is situated in an area which is not greatly culturally diverse, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. Assemblies are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE, PSHE and values teaching reinforce this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths.
We joined Faringdon Learning Trust (previously Faringdon Academy of Schools) in November 2013 - working together to build a better future for the children in our community. Our umbrella Trust vision states:
"Our Trust will create a seamless educational experience for our students across all key stages to develop responsible, capable and confident young people who are active citizens in the 21st Century. We will achieve outstanding progression and maximise pupil achievement in all Trust schools through a rich and motivating curriculum. The Trust will be recognized by our staff, parents and the local community as providers of a safe, creative and ethical environment reinforced by a vibrant Community Dimension. Overall, we will ensure that the Trust proactively adds value to each partner school so that the sum is always greater than the individual parts."
We have extended this, and created our own mission statement:
"We create, through our bright and welcoming environment, an inspirational place for our children, staff and parents to be. At John Blandy we believe children are challenged and supported to reach their full potential, creating inquisitive and resilient life-long learners."
John Blandy Primary is a hub of the community, where people feel welcome and able to contribute. As we grow to support the extending village, we further enhance our grounds and outcomes for our children.