We have a school council which meets at least twice a term. Children are elected to this role and the rest of the children are involved in the meetings which are led by the elected members. Elected members of year six are responsible for recording outcomes of the meetings and discussing the outcomes with the member of staff responsible for school council. The school council have been involved in gathering opinion about school issues such as homework, charities to support and other things like playtimes. School council leaders have been taught to implement a ‘majority rule’ when voting on particular issues.
As part of our Eco-Schools Accreditation we have an elected committee of representatives who champion local and school-based environmental issues.
The children are also involved in the planning of our creative curriculum, giving their thoughts on what they would like to learn. These ideas are then woven into the curriculum by class teachers.
Children are involved in making decisions about fundraising ideas and who the subsequent money they have raised is donated to, for example Red for Rachel Day. The whole school community including parents, children and staff work collaboratively to support local community events such as the Potters Bar Carnival.
The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school, or the country, is consistently reinforced at Cranborne Primary. Pupils are taught from an early age the rules of the school. These are our School Charter, Playground Rules and Safety Rules. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Each year the children decide upon their class rules and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the class rules.
Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message. Expectations are reinforced regularly and opportunities are sought frequently to praise positive choices. Pupils modelling behaviour consistent with the school’s high expectation are regularly recognised and used as role models for others. Opportunities are provided regularly for children and staff to participate or spectate in sporting activities which represent good examples of fairness, rules and etic ate in sport. Extra-curricular clubs (such as kick-fit and karate) emphasise why rules and boundaries are necessary to ensure safety.
We also make use of key events that we are involved in like Fireworks Night, the local Carnival etc to reinforce rules and guidelines that help keep oneself safe and others. It helps to reinforce the expectations and benefits of contributing positively to the local community.
We also make use of events in the school year e.g. Halloween, Summer Safety and Rail Safety campaigns to reinforce rules that keep us all safe.
At Cranborne Primary, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. Pupils are given the freedom to make choices and become critical thinkers through evaluating, reflecting and collecting valid and reliable evidence to make good decisions, for example: whether it is through choice of challenge and how they record their learning using key skills to present information and communicate ideas. We encourage children to pursue their interests and talents through engagement with a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. We also talk to children about the concept of human rights in assesmblies, PSHCE lessons and teach them the importance of liberty and effects of loss of liberty.
Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around the core value of ‘RESPECT’ and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Our school reward system is centred on our four school houses which involves all children from Year 1 to Year 6. Rewards are given for positive attitudes and behaviours and there is a termly cup awarded to the House that has accrued the most House Points. The school ethos and aims promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and RESPECT Rules, as well as our behaviour policy. High levels of mutual respect are obvious in the school are demonstrated daily in the excellent relationships between staff and pupils.
Cranborne Primary is a diverse school. We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Religious Education lessons and PSHCE lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. The children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths. Members of different faiths and religions within our school family are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning. We also welcome theatre groups who promote messages of equality and underline spiritual, moral, social and cultural values of groups of people around the world and within Britain. Resources in classrooms are regularly audited to ensure they reflect our multi-cultural society and stereotypes are challenged.