Vision, Ethos and Values
“Learning together, achieving together, bringing out the best in everyone”
Our school values were chosen by our pupils, staff and governors. They are at the heart of all we do.
Welcome to Elmwood Junior School
Elmwood is a diverse and multi-cultural school where pupils’ personal development and well-being are central to our ethos. Every pupil is valued and their unique qualities are recognised, nurtured and celebrated. Lessons are creative and inspiring and encourage a love of learning in pupils.
At Elmwood we work together to ensure each pupil reaches their full potential. Pupil voice is highly valued and we work in partnership with parents and carers to develop personal, social, moral, spiritual and cultural well-being. High expectations for all our pupils enable them to become resilient, independent, confident and successful life-long learners.
Key Ofsted Takeouts
What inspectors highlight about our environment and culture:
“Pupils are proud to belong to this welcoming and diverse school community where everyone is valued.”
— Ofsted Inspection Team“The school’s core values run through all aspects of daily life, fostering a highly positive environment for learning.”
— Ofsted Inspection TeamExperience Our Vibrant School
Watch our official film below to see our ethos in action
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Diverse
We are a diverse community; we celebrate our differences and learn from each other.
Creative
We use our imagination and critical thinking to create new things and solve problems.
Lifelong Learners
We have a growth mindset. We reflection, learn from our mistakes and build resilience.
Living Our Values
How we show our values every day at Elmwood Junior School:
Teaching and Learning
At Elmwood Junior School we believe in the concept of lifelong learning and the notion that learning should be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone; it should be fun!
Through our teaching we equip pupils with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to be able to make informed choices. We believe that inspirational teaching and learning experiences help pupils lead happy and rewarding lives. We aim to meet the needs of all pupils through a broad, balanced and exciting curriculum that encourages academic success. We also provide opportunities for pupils to experience a sense of achievement through sport, the creative arts and the use of technology which is central to the school’s successful philosophy of developing self-esteem.
Pupil Voice
Pupil voice is central to our ethos. As a Rights Respecting School (Unicef GOLD 2019), the UN convention ‘rights of the child’ are at the centre of our curriculum. Teaching and learning about rights for the whole community is a central part of the journey to becoming a rights respecting citizen.
Our pupils develop a strong sense of social justice and knowledge of local and global issues from a rights perspective. The School Council at Elmwood Junior School is made up of representatives from each class and aims to encourage pupils to have responsibility for the way things work and develop at school.
Well-being
Well-being is at the forefront of everything that we do at Elmwood Junior School. Our school values and ethos are embedded in the statement: ‘Learning together, achieving together, bringing out the best in everyone’.
Our curriculum enables children to build self-esteem, explore their values and attitudes and make informed decisions that affect their lives. It gives them an opportunity to develop their social skills, including assertiveness and negotiation, which is used in other areas of their everyday lives.
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development
Our aims, for all pupils, are to provide opportunities to achieve and to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, thus preparing all pupils for the opportunities and responsibilities of life.
The Elmwood Learner Profile
The Elmwood Learner Profile are 10 key values that each Elmwood child should embody. These keywords are underpinned by the concept of encouraging all children to have a positive growth mindset, and to appreciate that we all need to develop skills in learning how to learn, and learning how to live as responsible individuals who care for others as well as developing themselves.
A team builder
“We can achieve more together than on our own.”
Open minded
“We don’t have time for prejudice!”
Curious
“I learn more by asking ‘why?'”
Compassion
“It’s not just about me.”
Creative
“Being a creative thinker is the highest level of thinking.”
Resilience
“The greatest lesson in life!”
Respectful
“Rights are more than words, it’s in how we treat each other.”
Responsible
“That was my mistake.”
Confidence
“Believe in yourself.”
Risk Taker
“I’m not frightened of making mistakes.”
