Values
In August 2019 we introduced new values to our school community with the aim of these to raise standards by promoting a school ethos which is underpinned by the agreed core values. These values support the development of the whole child as a reflective learner within our calm, caring, happy and purposeful school community. Our school policy statement for values further reflects this.
At Benarty Primary School we give regular thought to how our values can be used to support the child as a reflective learner and promote quality teaching and learning. We also believe that the ethos of the school should be built on a foundation of values. The values very much underpin the school vision of our learners, our school, our community our future.
The values we focus on are Ambition, Success, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect and Empower
The teaching team in school are encouraged through their Forward Planning and Evaluations to address the school values directly through lessons. Whole school gatherings initially through a together time in the hall and more recently through Microsoft Teams focus around, educate and celebrate our values. Our values are the basis for the social, emotional and intellectual understanding of the whole child. We encourage children to consider these values, and thereby to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable them to develop as reflective learners and self-regulate accordingly.
The success of our approach to our values being fully embedded within our school has become increasingly evident through discussions with children and how they link their learning and social interaction to our school values on a regular and consistent basis.
As a next step, we have started the process of celebrating our school values across our wider community. Previous our school values were displayed in school corridors and classrooms but to further display and enhance, values are displayed on our school windows, communication to parents and recent postcards sent home to celebrate the success of our children in school.
Reporting progress, achievement and success in school with families are linked to our school values and this is supporting a consistent message that we hope through time will be part of discussions for our children when at home and in the school community. Recently the school received a message from a parent that highlighted how far our values have evolved since introduced and how they have become part of our children.
“To start your Monday off, I thought you might like a little smile and know that your school values are received loud and clear by Lewis (P2). He has used your value words on a few occasions such as Perseverance and Success as well as their meaning. Our Saturday one was Inclusive and Included.
Campbell, Lewis and I volunteer at Kelty Community Cinema. On Saturday we were watching Happy Feet at the Community Cinema. There is a scene where Mumble (main character) is kicked out of the group waddle on to an iceberg on his own. Lewis, very loudly and matter of fact, turned with a wee annoyed face and said “Well that is not being inclusive! They need to include everyone and have good values to be kind to everyone. I think they need to go to Benarty Primary and NOT whoever that teacher is to learn to be inclusive.”
