Looking to the future, our vision is that Sandridge will be an ‘Outstanding’ school and the school of choice for children in St Albans. We wish to be recognised for our nurturing and caring environment, in which every child strives to do their very best, feeling happy, safe and confident.
Our vision is underpinned by the shared values of the whole school community:
Respect, Equality, Perseverance and Self-belief.
These values drive our work and permeate all aspects of our teaching and learning.
Our aims:
Sandridge School will:
- Be an educationally inclusive school in which the well-being, learning and achievements of all members of the school community matter and are well-catered for.
- Expect and promote the highest standards of behaviour and academic achievement.
- Provide a broad, exciting and challenging curriculum, alongside a wide range of enrichment and extra-curricular activities which actively encourage and develop the talents of every child.
- Ensure an excellent start to their school experience for children in our Nursery, and establish positive and lasting relationships with parents and carers.
- Provide a safe, healthy and secure environment, recognising that our commitment to investing in the emotional, mental and physical well-being of pupils and staff will enhance progress and achievement.
- Ensure that all teaching and learning takes place within a stimulating, high-quality environment, enhanced and further developed with the aid of the most up-to-date resources and materials.
- Provide every child with access to high-quality music education – including instrumental tuition – developing enjoyment and the confidence to perform and bring pleasure to others.
- Provide opportunities for all staff to continue their own learning and professional development and share quality practice with colleagues.
- Foster a strong sense of pride in making a positive contribution to the success of the school ‘family’ and wider community.
- Prepare pupils to enter the next stage of their education with the confidence, knowledge, experience and skills required to become responsible and successful citizens, well-equipped to meet the demands of modern life.
Sandridge School 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.”
The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.
Democracy
Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and pupil voice questionnaires. The elections of House Captains and School Council Representatives are based solely on pupil votes. Children are given the opportunity to debate and discuss in many areas of the curriculum. Opportunities for all pupils to have their say can be seen particularly in Religious Education, English and PSHE; although all subjects will involve discussion, turn taking, debate and decision making.
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 the school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through assemblies and curriculum topics. The school’s Behaviour Policy is shared with all stakeholders and is used consistently by all staff to ensure pupils are clear about high expectations and acceptable standards of behaviour. At the start of the school year pupils generate a class charter which reinforces these expectations and consequences.
Individual Liberty
Children at Sandridge know they have the freedom to make choices. The school’s safe and supportive environment encourages pupils to make choices and use initiative supporting their own interests.
As a school we provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through Protective Behaviours, our eSafety curriculum and PSHE lessons. eSafety pupil and parent workshops are run annually and online safety is reinforced throughout the curriculum.
Mutual Respect
Our school ethos and Behaviour Policy revolve around core values such as ‘respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy. Our celebration of different cultures; through our international links work, and faiths; through our teaching of Religious Education and our links to local places of worship, reinforce this aspect of British Values.
Tolerance
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 about prejudice and prejudice- based bullying have taken place and have been supported by learning in RE and PSHE and through poetry in English. Pupils and staff of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and across the wider school.