Our vision is encapsulated by our motto T.E.A.M Together Everyone Achieves More.
Our vision at Hopeman Primary school is to use our unique village location, strong community links and high quality learning experiences to deliver a curriculum that enables our children to achieve excellence in the four capacities:
Successful Learners
Confident Individuals
Effective Contributors
Responsible Citizens
We want every child to play and learn in an environment where positive relationships are fostered and they feel
Safe
Healthy
Achieving
Nurtured
Active
Respected
Responsible
Included
Our Values
Upon visiting Hopeman Primary School you notice the following values embedded in our ethos… Teamwork– we work in pairs, groups and across stages developing collaborative skills building a whole school community. We work closely with parents, the community and outside partners. Responsibility– we all take on leadership roles, are self-aware, make good choices, care for their environment and others. Excellence – we strive to be the best we can be; we have high expectations and a Growth Mindset. Respect- our own rights and the rights of others.
Our Aims
Developing Capacity in our Children
All children develop the knowledge, skills and attributes of Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Effective Contributors and Responsible Citizens through:
the eight curricular areas
the ethos and life of the school
interdisciplinary learning recognising and celebrating wider achievements
Our Environmental Context Our curriculum is influenced by:
Our rural, coastal setting
The heritage of our close knit community
Cross-sector partnerships
Links with local businesses
Our Approaches to Learning Literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing core to all learning experiences. Our whole school and community approach to Learning for Sustainability weaves together global citizenship, sustainable development education, outdoor learning and children’s rights to create coherent, rewarding and transformative learning experiences. Our teaching approaches are based upon current research and methodologies.
Supporting all Children
Our curriculum delivery is based on GIRFEC guidelines. The wellbeing indicators are used to ensure all children are Safe, Healthy, Active, Nurtured, Achieving, Respected, Responsible and Included.
Needs are identified early using baseline assessments and teacher judgement. Learner Profiles and Strategies are used to ensure additional support needs are met. Support is provided to all children where required and learning is differentiated.
Contexts for Learning Our learning experiences are delivered through the 4 CONTEXTS:
Curriculum Areas are planned for and taught discretely or through a context.
Ethos and life of the school provides children from the earliest stages with opportunities to be leaders of change and action.
Interdisciplinary Learning allows for curricular areas to be weaved together within a context.
Opportunities for Personal Achievements are planned for and celebrated both in the classroom and beyond.
Pupil Participation
Children work with each other and their teachers to shape their learning experiences and are involved in:
Initial topic planning
Co-creating success criteria
Self and peer assessment and evaluation
Personal target setting
Identifying next steps
Peer support
Digital learning journals
Child-led learning
Co-creating classroom charters
Leading action and change
Leading assemblies
Ensuring Quality Learning Experiences We ensure learning is effective in a number of ways:·
Continuous reflection and evaluation of learning and teaching
Assessment is for Learning Strategies
HT and Peer observations
Moderation
Collaborative planning
Summative assessment
Continuous curriculum development
Practitioner enquiry
Tracking progress
7 Principles of Curriculum Design
We are engaging with and developing the use of the design principles in our planning. All of our topic plans and interdisciplinary learning consider:
Challenge & Enjoyment
Personalisation and Choice
Progression
Depth
Relevance
Coherence
Breadth
Parental Engagement Our school has an open door policy. We encourage parental involvement in all aspects of school life. We communicate regularly with parents through learning journals, termly curricular updates on the school website and termly newsletters and reports. We share the children’s learning through parent assemblies, shared learning, family learning, visits for parents and parent/teacher interviews. We regularly gather parental views through the Parent Council, parent forums, surveys and questionnaires. We have many parents who help in school and support with trips out of school.
Raising Attainment At Hopeman we have high expectations of pupils and staff who provide high quality learning and teaching experiences. We value and make use of:
Parental involvement
Family Learning
Early intervention
Tracking and monitoring
Target Setting
Summative and formative assessment
Developing Our Curriculum All teachers dedicate time to:
Curriculum planning
Working groups
Practitioner enquiry
Moderation
ASG collaboration
Career Long Professional Learning
Celebrating our Successes We have a range of methods to communicate our successes in school, with our families and the wider community:
Seesaw and Website
Monthly and termly newsletters
Family learning
Annual Pupil Report
Parents evenings
Wall of Action
Self-Evaluation Display
School events
Annual standards and Quality report
Our Programmes of Learning All programmes of learning are designed and refreshed using the Experiences and Outcomes from the Curriculum for Excellence. Each is relevant to our context and take into account enterprise, citizenship, sustainable development, international education and creativity. Programmes of learning are continually evaluated, updated and improved in line with national policy.
Out Transitions Our ethos of mixed stage and whole school events facilitates smooth transitions between stages. Transitions between nursery and primary 1 and P7 to secondary are well established and provide a smooth transition for all our pupils. Enhanced transitions are provided for some children.