As Head teacher I aspire to lead a school that aims:
- To ensure that we inspire in all pupils, a love of learning;
- To equip all pupils with the self-confidence necessary to constructively influence their own lives and to develop into caring competent adults;
- To ensure that all pupils have an equal opportunity to take part in the life and work of the school;
- To be a place every child remembers with affection.
As a school we:
- Place creativity at the heart of teaching and learning
- Strive to make learning vivid, fun, relevant and real
- Work to ensure all learners succeed in an environment that is welcoming, secure and stimulating.
- Recognise and celebrate success
- Aim high and set high standards
- Plan with thought and creativity
- Match teaching styles to learning need.
- Have a commitment to equality of opportunity with appropriate support and enrichment.
- Value children as individuals, enabling them to develop a positive self image and respect for others.
- Believe that asking questions is central to learning
- See our assessment priority as involving children in their own assessment.
- Aim to develop learning skills across the curriculum, inside and outside the classroom.
- Value and celebrate our rich diversity.
- Believe that special events and traditions play an important role in school life.
- See the school as a learning community where everyone works hard and enjoys themselves.
We aim to develop pupils who
- Gain good basic skills and are valued, respected and celebrated
- Have a strong moral, cultural, emotional, spiritual and social purpose
- Develop healthy minds and healthy bodies
- Are rounded individuals who believe in their own potential
- Have high standards of behaviour and tolerance by developing respect and responsibility for themselves and their community
- Will be good citizens of the future who understand the principles of British Values.
- Take an active part in the life and work of the school and have a desire to go on learning throughout life
- Have self esteem, self confidence, self discipline and responsibility
- Are excited by their learning and take pride in their learning
Here are some of our fantastic pupils.
Extremism and Radicalisation
As part of our safeguarding ethos we encourage pupils to respect the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
We ensure that partisan political views are not promoted in the teaching of any subject in the school and where political issues are brought to the attention of the pupils, reasonably practicable steps have been taken to offer a balanced presentation of opposing views to pupils.
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.
There are a number of behaviours which may indicate a child is at risk of being radicalised or exposed to extreme views. These include;
- Spending increasing time in the company of other suspected extremists.
- Changing their style of dress or personal appearance to accord with the group.
- Day-to-day behaviour becoming increasingly centred on an extremist ideology, group or cause.
- Loss of interest in other friends and activities not associated with the extremist ideology, group or cause.
- Possession of materials or symbols associated with an extremist cause.
- Attempts to recruit others to the group/cause.
- Communications with others that suggests identification with a group, cause or ideology.
- Using insulting to derogatory names for another group.
- Increase in prejudice-related incidents committed by that person – these may include;
- · physical or verbal assault
- · provocative behaviour
- · damage to property
- · derogatory name calling
- · possession of prejudice-related materials
- · prejudice related ridicule or name calling
- · inappropriate forms of address
- · refusal to co-operate
- · attempts to recruit to prejudice-related organizations
Although incidents involving radicalisation have not occurred at Holly Park School to date, it is important for us to be constantly vigilant and remain fully informed about the issues which affect the local area, city and society in which we teach.
Staff are reminded to suspend any ‘professional disbelief’ that instances of radicalisation ‘could not happen here’ and to be ‘professionally inquisitive’ where concerns arise, referring any concerns through the appropriate channels.
Our curriculum is “broad and balanced”. It promotes respect, tolerance and diversity. Children are encouraged to share their views and recognise that they are entitled to have their own different beliefs which should not be used to influence others.
Our PSHE provision is embedded across the curriculum. It directs our assemblies and underpins the ethos of the school. We strive to equip our pupils with confidence, self-belief, respect and tolerance as well as setting high standards and expectations for themselves.
Children are regularly taught about how to stay safe when using the internet and are encouraged to recognise that people are not always who they say they are online. They are taught to seek adult help if they are upset or concerned about anything they read or see on the internet.
As a community school we are committed to the development of community cohesion and the prevention of extremism and radicalisation both within our school’s physical boundaries and within our local, national and global environments.
We are also committed to respond to community concerns or local disturbances in a positive way which supports British democratic society.
At Holly Park we promote British Values
Prevent Strategy
As part of Holly Park’s commitment to safeguarding and child protection we fully support the government’s Prevent Strategy.
What is the Prevent Strategy?
The Prevent Strategy is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It:
- responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views
- provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
- works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health)
Please click here for a link to the official government document.
You can find more information in our Child Protection policy
Holly Park Primary School 