Our mission,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.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to develop children with active and creative minds. They will build a sense of understanding, a compassion and tolerance for others, and have the courage to act on their beliefs showing grit and determination.

We aim to prepare and motivate our children for a rapidly changing world by instilling in them critical thinking skills, a global perspective, and a respect for core values.  We aim to develop well-rounded, confident and responsible individuals who aspire to be the very best and who are prepared for future challenges.

Pride will be displayed in all they strive to achieve. 

We provide a welcoming, happy, safe and supportive learning environment in which everyone is equal and all achievements are celebrated.  Children will have success for today and be prepared for tomorrow.

Vision

• We always strive for excellence in ourselves, our pupils and our community, so that we can be proud of our school and take a pride in ourselves.
• Our school is a partnership and we will continue to build quality relationships, bringing together teachers, pupils, parents and our governing body with shared goals and aspirations.
• We care about our pupils and want them to feel safe and supported. We will ensure our school is friendly, welcoming, active, vibrant and inclusive.
• We want our children to be happy, enthusiastic, motivated and well-behaved. We will inspire them to be curious, resilient, reflective and proud of their efforts and achievements.
• Our staff are professional, experienced and supportive. Children will be encouraged to participate fully, learn through their mistakes, develop critical thinking skills, use their initiative and always give 100%.
• We design and review a creative, exciting and challenging curriculum which centres around our children’s needs.
• We work within a school community in which we are all open to new ideas, recognise that ideas change rapidly, and are prepared to take informed and creative risks to move ourselves and our pupils forward.
• We teach our children to be open-minded, tolerant of other people’s differences, respectful, law abiding and democratic individuals.
• We will prepare our pupils for taking their place in an ever-changing world by helping them to become confident, independent, self-reliant lifelong learners.
• We are an integral part of our local community where we are positive role models working collaboratively to provide experiences for a diverse range of people.
• Our goal is to give the children at Newlands Junior School a window on the wider world, developing an understanding of the global community and how we can make an impact.
• We aim to ensure our children are confident communicators who can work as a team, lead, listen and inspire others.
• We provide our children with the aspirations to lead a fulfilling life where they are safe and respected.
• We help our children to independently self-regulate, demonstrating responsibility and discipline in order to follow Britain’s rule of Law.
• We develop a sense of fun in all we do, never being afraid to fail, and adventurously demonstrating grit to achieve our goals.

Values 

Our values come under 4 umbrellas: Pride, Respect, Kindness, Responsibility.

Pride - Pupils should value and celebrate both their efforts and achievements whilst recognising their unique characteristics. They should use resilience, determination and positivity, sometimes learning through mistakes and challenges. 

Respect - Pupils will understand the importance of manners and showing respect to others, including people in authority. They will embed the British Values within their daily lives, rejecting stereotypes and treating people equally within the protected characteristics. They will also understand the importance of taking care of our planet and realise the impact we all make. 

Kindness - Pupils will be thoughtful and accept others, showing empathy and compassion. They will build positive relationships showing loyalty. They will recognise the consequences of their actions and how this will affect theirs and others happiness. They will learn to deal with challenges and ask for support when needed. 

Responsibility - Pupils will learn to be responsible for their actions. They will know the consequences of their choices relating to internet safety, bullying, peer pressure and anti-social behaviour. They will value their community showing pride and respect. 

We feel that if our pupil's are able to leave Newlands with these values fully embedded, they will have the self-belief needed for success as well as the ability to treat others as they would wish to be treated whilst making decisions that will impact positively on their lives.

British Values

Promoting British values

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”

At Newlands we teach and reinforce these values in the following ways:

Democracy:

• We provide opportunities for children to debate and discuss a variety of issues

• We encourage children to vote for things that they want to happen

• Children help make the rules

• We ensure there are opportunities to become leaders and take on additional responsibility

• We encourage children to express their views in pupil conferences, online pupil surveys and through the school council

   

The Rule of Law:

• Children are taught the difference between right and wrong and are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and make the right choices

• They are taught that the law is there to protect them and that breaking the law involves consequences

• Children are expected to follow the school rules that aim to keep children safe and promote a positive atmosphere for teaching and learning

• Children are encouraged to reflect on their actions and make things right

• We arrange cycling proficiency for the children in order for them to stay safe and understand the rules of the road 

• Visitors, including the Police, are invited to school to help children understand the importance of living within the law

   

  Individual Liberty:

• Children are encouraged to put forward ideas for school improvement and what they would like to learn about in the classroom

• Children are elected to the School Council to represent their peers and make things happen

• Children are given the opportunity to express opinions and state preferences

• We learn about War, the British Empire and the Commonwealth

• Through clubs and residential trips children are encouraged to try new things and take risks

• Children are encouraged to take on new challenges and aspire to be the best they can

   

  Mutual Respect and Tolerance:

• We encourage children to be polite and helpful to others and lead by example

• We learn to respect other people and recognise that people may be different from us

• We promote equality and fairness

• In lessons we actively promote everyone’s right to learn and create a learning environment which is conducive to this

• We ensure that everyone is made aware that bullying of any kind will not be tolerated

• We teach positive values by which to live and celebrate them in assemblies

• We teach children that we are all different, special and have a range of skills to offer

• We teach children about a variety of faiths and cultures which is underpinned by respect and tolerance regardless of our own beliefs

• Children visit places of worship

   

Promotion of Britishness:

• We commemorate key historical dates such as Armistice and Guy Fawkes

• We celebrate British festivals and special days such as St Georges day, Harvest festival, Shrove Tuesday, Easter and Christmas

• We show support for our country when key sporting fixtures arise

At Newlands we work hard to ensure our pupils leave prepared to deal with life in modern day Britain.