Our Mission Statement
At Bicton C E Primary School and Nursery, through our Christian ethos, we aim to create a stimulating, secure and supportive environment where pupils are challenged and encouraged to develop to their full potential.
We have high expectations of every individual and seek to develop the whole child academically, physically, spiritually, morally and culturally.
We believe that the partnership between pupil, parents, staff, governors, the wider community and the Church are vital to the success of the school. We promote quality relationships, where positive self-esteem, mutual respect and responsibility are regarded as most important.
Our Vision
We nurture and inspire all children in our care to flourish and develop a lifelong love of learning, becoming the best they can be.
We provide an enriching and engaging curriculum, equipping children with the resilience, confidence and independence needed for our ever-changing world. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development will be at our heart.
John 10:10 Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”
Learning for a Lifetime
In the autumn and spring terms of 2016-2017, we set about creating a school motto to celebrate what is special about our school. Every child created a piece of work illustrating what makes our school special to them. A group of children then worked closely with our Reverend and school staff to pick out the ‘golden threads.’ Learning, friendship, caring staff, memorable trips and visits kept appearing again and again and our new motto – Learning for a Lifetime – was born.
In conjunction we this, we revisited our core Christian Values. Pupils, staff and governors worked together to share the values which we feel play a huge part in the life of our school and how we demonstrate these every day. Our Christian Values are referred to continuously during the week and we relate these to the teachings of Jesus, as well how they are evident in how we lead our lives.
- Love
- Kindness
- Peace
- Joy
- Generosity
- Perseverance
- Respect
British Values and the Prevention of Radicalisation
British Values
The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and there is an 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.’
At Bicton C E Primary School and Nursery, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
Democracy is taken very seriously in our school and nursery. Children are actively encouraged to have a voice and share their views and opinions regularly. Our house captains and vice captains are one such example. At the start of each academic year, Year 6 candidates for these roles pitch their election manifesto to the rest of their class. A ballot ensues and the results are announced in a special assembly. Alongside these roles, we also have an Eco Schools Committee, Worship Committee and Safer Schools representatives. Children take great pride in being elected to these roles and carrying out their associated duties, which includes reviewing outcomes of pupil surveys. These annual surveys provide children with the opportunity to share their views of what it is like to attend Bicton C E Primary School and suggest ways in which the school could be improved further.
Children also contribute their ideas to the composition of their own class charter each year, which includes expectations for classroom conduct and establishes the standards of behaviour children can expect from each other over the year ahead.
Governors also talk regularly to children to establish their views, as a way of ensuring that school self-evaluation is robust and accurate, and therefore effective in moving the school forward.
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 the school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Children 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. Our school rules and expectations, which are referred to regularly and consistently upheld, are displayed in all classrooms. Assemblies and workshops from visitors such as the NSPCC, West Mercia Police and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service help reinforce the importance of laws.
Individual Liberty
Within our school and nursery, children are actively encouraged to make decisions and choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for young children to take risks and make choices safely. Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our online safety and RSE / PSHE lessons. Whether it be through their choice of learning challenge, how they record their learning, or participation in one of our extra-curricular clubs, children are given the freedom to make choices and decisions.
Mutual Respect
As a Church of England School, mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours affect their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect and recognise that they have a responsibility towards each other. This is reinforced through our school behaviour approach and expectations of children being Ready, Respectful and Safe.
Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Bicton C E Primary School and Nursery is situated in an area which is not culturally diverse. Therefore, we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. As a Church of England school our daily worship focuses mainly on Christianity, but we ensure that other faiths and beliefs are explored through our curriculum. This includes delivering assemblies with stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures, and through our teaching of RE and PSHE.
Each year, the children explore a world faith alongside their learning about Christianity. By the time they leave our school, children will have learnt about the beliefs and practices of people of different world faiths including Judaism, Sikhism, and Islam. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge, to enhance learning within classes and the school.
At Bicton C E Primary School and Nursery, we will challenge opinions which are contrary to fundamental British Values, including those expressing ‘extremist’ views.
Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism
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.
Prevent Leaflet for Parents
The Governing Body of Bicton C E Primary School and Nursery has a zero tolerance approach to extremist behaviour for all school community members. We rely on our strong values to steer our work and ensure that the pastoral care of our children protects them from exposure to negative influences.
Bicton C E Primary School and Nursery is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its children. We recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability. All our staff are expected to uphold and promote the fundamental principles of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
- Children are encouraged to adopt and live out our school values which complement the key ‘British Values’ of tolerance, respect, understanding, compassion, and harmonious living.
- Children are helped to understand the importance of democracy and freedom of speech, through social and emotional aspects of learning, collective worship/assemblies and through elected roles of pupil responsibility / pupil committees.
- Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, in school and when using the internet.
- Children participate in local community events so that they appreciate and value their neighbours and friends and their beliefs.
- Children’s wellbeing, confidence and resilience are promoted through our planned curriculum and extra-curricular learning opportunities.
- Children are supported in making good choices from a very young age, so they understand the impact and consequences of their actions on others.
The Role of the Curriculum
Our curriculum aims to enable children to become well-rounded individuals and recognises the importance of resilience in preventing children being drawn into extremist ways of thinking. We promote respect, tolerance, and diversity. Children are encouraged to express themselves through discussions, debates, and surveys.
Our RE (Religious Education), PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education), Citizenship and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) provision is embedded across the curriculum, which underpins the ethos of our school. Children learn about a wide range of faiths and visit places of worship wherever possible. Every fortnight, we welcome a group of Open the Book volunteers from Bicton Church to lead our whole-school worship, which develops children’s moral values and enhances their knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith.
Children are also taught about how to stay safe when using the internet.
Although serious incidents involving radicalisation have not occurred in our school and nursery to date, it is important for us to be constantly vigilant and remain fully informed about the issues which affect the region in which we teach. Staff are reminded to suspend any professional disbelief that instances of radicalisation ‘could not happen here’ and to refer any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.