Everything we do at Walkington School can be tracked back to three overarching aims:
- To enable every child to become a successful learner
- To encourage every child to get the most out of life
- To ensure every child is confident and likes the person they are.
We are tremendously proud of the characteristics and values our pupils display, both in school and beyond. We also recognise that the skills and attributes we share will stay with our children into adulthood, and will shape the lives they lead long after they leave us. We reiterate to them that school is only partly about the acquisition of knowledge, skills and qualifications; while this will undoubtedly open doors in the future, it is the person they are, not the qualification they hold, that will take them through these doors and on to success and happiness.
We are also aware of the complex world that our children live in, and the opportunities and challenges this brings. We realise too that our children are likely to live, study and work in many diverse places throughout Britain and beyond. We firmly believe that the moral compass provided at Walkington School will serve them well in this world, and allow them to appreciate and enjoy the full breadth of modern life.
We are mindful too of the pressures society places on our younger members, often through the channels of social media or advertising. We are committed to helping all our pupils understand and deal with these messages, and encouraging them to feel good about themselves. As a school, we celebrate individuality and value the diversity this brings.
Whilst upholding the Government’s ‘modern British’ values of democracy, liberty, the rule of law and tolerance of other faiths and cultures, we generally use the broader definition of ‘human values’ when sharing them with children. Through our lessons, our assemblies and the actions of our staff, we seek to promote these and other key characteristic such as kindness and honesty.
We use a range of resources and texts, often from organisations such as Stonewall and Amnesty, as age appropriate starting points for discussion. We believe in an inclusive society, with no place for bullying or discrimination. In the extremely rare instances of children demonstrating inappropriate behaviour relating to any individual’s characteristics, we will use this as an opportunity for restorative work to reinforce the school’s ethos and values. Upon hearing about our work on human rights, we were delighted when the Archbishop of York asked to visit our school to find out more.
This statement hopefully provides an insight into this vital aspect of the school’s work. The best way to appreciate this, however, is to spend time in school and around our children; I sincerely believe they embody these values, and will take them with them into later life. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you wish to discuss further the aims of the school in this area.
Mr Chris Bullough
Headteacher
