School Values
British Values
The Department for Education (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, and these values were reiterated to schools during 2014. At Sholing Junior School these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy
Each year the classes decide upon their class rules and all the children contribute to the drawing up of these rules. Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a School Council which meets to discuss issues raised in class council meetings. The Council has the ability to genuinely effect change within the school. Its members for each year group are voted in by their class. We also have house teams and the children in each team vote for their house captains. Children have an annual questionnaire with which they are able to put forward their views about the school.
Some of our pupils visit the Houses of Parliament to meet Royston Smith MP and our Head Boy and Head Girl are invited to attend Prime Minister's questions. The school building is regularly used for local elections and the children discuss some of the issues relating to democracy in class and assembly. We have a good relationship with Southampton City Council and the Mayor and councillors visit the school.
Links to school learning behaviours and skills:
- Respect
- Tolerance
- Collaboration
The Rule of Law
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced every day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies and worship. 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 and City Council Members help reinforce this message.
Links to school learning behaviours and skills:
- Respect
- Co-operation
- Following Instructions
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 provision of a safe environment and empowering education.
Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE sessions. Whether it is through choice of learning challenge, of how they record or participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Links to school learning behaviours and skills:
- Independence
- Thinking for Yourself
- Good Judgement
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect.
Links to school learning behaviours and skills:
- Respect
- Building Relationships
- Awareness Empathy
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Sholing Junior School is situated in an area which has cultural diversity, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting the importance of tolerance with the children. Assemblies are planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Although our Collective Worships are predominantly of a Christian flavour our RE, PSHE and teaching reinforce tolerance of others and explore different faiths, cultures and backgrounds.
Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. Children visit places of worship that are important to different faiths as part of their RE work.
At Sholing Junior School we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views where appropriate. School staff undertake PREVENT (The College of Policing Channel General Awareness) training.
Links to school learning behaviours and skills:
- Respect
- Tolerance
- Open Mindedness
The Sholing Way
As members of our school community we will:
- Work and play together safely and happily.
- Share a smile and look after others in our school.
- Be caring and helpful.
- Treat everyone and everything with respect.
- Treat people as you would like to be treated.
- Respect other people’s right to learn and play.
- Take care of our equipment, property and environment.
- Consider the feelings and needs of other people.
- Be polite and remember please, thank you and excuse me.
- Try to speak, listen and act with courtesy.
- Refrain from words and actions that could hurt others.
- Take responsibility for your own actions.
- Be responsible for your own learning.
- Be honest about the things you get wrong.
- Reach for your own high standards.
- Never, ever give up.
Together we are Sholing Junior School.
A 21st Century Vision for Sholing Junior School
We are building an educational community in Sholing where children are more than just educated and where all feel safe and supported. A place where children will be empowered to change not only their own lives but the lives of those around them.
We, the staff, will be good role models who inspire through a love of learning and be motivated to make a positive impact on each other’s lives.
Together, we will strive to remove the barriers to success and fear of failure. We will provide a culture of mutual respect and acceptance with children moving onto their next stage of learning with the skills and values to set them on the path to achieve their aspirations.
Our school will take pride in leading the children of Sholing Junior School on their journey - both educational and for life; enabling them to drive their own futures and shape our community for the better.
Sholing Junior School - an adventure for the mind and a home for the heart.
Aims
- Provide a stable, caring, safe and secure working environment for all
- Ensure that all children have the opportunity to fulfil their potential
- Help children acquire a love of learning by offering them appropriate, challenging and thought provoking activities
- Teach and encourage children to respond with appropriate behaviour in all situations
- Encourage children to relate to one another and to adults in a positive way being empathetic towards others differences
- Offer all children equal opportunities across a broad and balanced curriculum
- Help children to become responsible, caring members of our school and outside community
- Work in partnership with parents to raise standards
- Daring to dream about what we could and should do with our lives
School Profile
Sholing Junior School is a co-educational junior school (7 - 11 years) of 360 pupils. The standard admission number is set at 90 (September 2015). It is an Urban City school and caters mainly for children who live on the eastern side of Southampton. We place personal development and emotional literacy high on our agenda and the motto of Sholing Junior School is ‘Achieving Together'. We see ourselves as a learning community in which all stakeholders; pupils, parents and staff alike, are acknowledged to be learners and are encouraged to achieve together and strive for excellence.
The school is an integral part of the local community and is exceptionally well regarded by parents. Sholing Junior School is presently full with most year groups over-subscribed.
The school is in an area of comparative disadvantage and the school deprivation indicator has increased since 2010. 60% of our children live in IDACI rank 1 & 2 'most deprived' areas (April 2016). The catchment serves an area of mostly local authority and social housing with a little private housing. It includes a wide social mix, including pupils with complex social, emotional and educational needs. Despite the financial barriers, pupil participation in extra-curricular activities and residential trips is high. Our pupils come from the wards of Sholing, Peartree, Bitterne and Harefield with the many coming from the Merry Oak Estate.
The area of Sholing is a stable community with many of our pupils' parents and grandparents having attended the school. Although the majority of children are from the immediate locality, increasing numbers apply and come from beyond the catchment area. The majority of pupils are white with 14.2% from minority ethnic backgrounds. Children that transfer to us from other schools often arrive with very low self-esteem due to their previous unhappy experiences. When they leave us, the vast majority have self-belief and are positive about themselves and the future.
[1] The people in this category have modest lifestyles, but are able to get by. NA = national figure
A Typical Day
| 8:00 - 8:40 am | Breakfast Club. |
| 8:40 am | Playground gates open and parents can access the office |
| 8:50 am | Children proceed to class and registration commences |
| 9:00 am | First lesson |
| 9:55 am | Second lesson |
| 10:40 am | Breaktime |
| 11:00 am | End of Breaktime. Children proceed to class for third lesson |
| 12:10 pm | Lunchtime begins |
| 12:15pm | Lunchtime nurture club |
| 1:00 pm | End of lunchtime. Children proceed to class and registration commences |
| 1.05 pm | Fourth lesson |
| 2:05 pm | Fifth lesson |
| 3:25 pm | End of the school day: children collected in South Playground |
| 3.25 - 4.25 pm | Extra-curricular activities |
| 3:05 - 5:45 pm | After School Club |