Our Vision
At Whitegate End, we create emotionally resilient children and staff with a range of academic and life skills. We prepare our children for life, not only the next stages of their education, and provide them with the tools to be lifelong learners.
Everyone belongs. The environment we create for each other is safe and gives us the opportunity to challenge each other’s thinking and stand up for the things we feel passionate about.
We thrive when we go out into the ever-changing world and are proud of the memories that we create together.
At Whitegate End we believe that by following characteristics and values support the development of a well rounded child, ready to learn and contribute towards their community.
Our Values
At Whitegate End we are passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people. We nurture; whatever issues our students, their families, the school, our staff or the community face, we always support, react and pull together. We act with integrity when working with each other, with teachers and colleagues across the school, with the wider school community and most importantly with the young people in our school. Finally, we are determined to make a difference; we are not passive players in young people’s lives but active participants who can and do make a real difference.
Our moral purpose can therefore be summarised below -
We nurture
We act with integrity
We show determination
Promoting Fundamental British Values
In accordance with The Department for Education we aim to actively promote British values in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.
The Key Values are:
We use weekly assemblies, supported by materials from Picture News, to discuss our British Values and how they relate to school life.
Promoting British Values at Whitegate End Primary School
Whitegate End is part of the Oldham Schools Linking Project.
This helps :
Other examples of British Values in action within our school are developed by:
Democracy – strong school council, our children know that their voice is valued and listened to by adults in school.
Individual liberty- pupil’s awareness of their choice and freedoms in school and in their own life now and in the future.
Rule of law- make links to importance of school rules and values and that the law applies to everyone
Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (and those without faith) identify , continue and build on existing good practice in assemblies, RE topics ,other links to curriculum topics, PSHE time, relationships and lunchtime clubs.
The DfE have recently 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.”
The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated by the Prime Minister this year. At Whitegate End, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy:
Democracy is active within the school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and Pupil questionnaires. The elections of School Councillors and House Captains are based upon pupil and teacher votes. Our school behaviour policy involves rewards which the eligible pupils choose to suit him, or her, personally.
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 regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils 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. Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service; Road Safety teams etc. are parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty:
Within school, 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 choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our Cyber-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether through choice of challenge, of how they record; undertake Homework (KS2), of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect:
Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around our continued focus upon Characteristics - such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Displays around the school promote Characteristic foci and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.