Our vision is ambitious for every child at Elmwood Juniors. We work hard to nurture and support every child’s development so that they grow into confident, creative and compassionate individuals not only equipped to handle their future academic career, but be instilled with values that encourage children to make genuine contributions to making a better world for their families, our community, this city and even the nation.
We aim to achieve this vision through creating an excellent and inspiring learning culture. We promote the Elmwood Learner Profile through everything that we do. We design and deliver a high quality curriculum that is both challenging, inspiring and purposeful, equipping children in ways that go far beyond the National Curriculum.
We believe profoundly in having strong links with parents and the local community. We understand that working very closely with parents, in partnership, with the same vision enables Elmwood children to flourish as individuals developing emotional confidence to be themselves and take responsibility for their learning.
We aim to meet the needs of all children through a broad, balanced and exciting curriculum that encourages academic success. We also provide opportunities for children to experience a sense of achievement through sport and the creative arts which is central to the school’s successful philosophy of developing children’s self-esteem.
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.
Elmwood Learner Profile attributes
The Elmwood Learner Profile are 10 key values that each Elmwood child should embody. These words were developed by the school community in consultation with children, staff and parents in the Summer of 2022. 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.
We ask the question, what is an Elmwood child?
| Elmwood attribute | Phrase to sum up the attribute |
| 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 |
OFSTED: The school was judged Good at its last Ofsted
The inspection identified key strengths of the school:
- A welcoming and happy place
- Has maintained the good quality of education since the last inspection
- The governing body, pupils, parents and staff are rightly proud of its inclusive nature
- Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement
- Effective steps are taken to share good practice in teaching, learning and assessment
- Safeguarding arrangements are fit for purpose and records are detailed and of high quality
- Senior leaders have established a strong safeguarding culture
- Pupils speak very positively about their school, and their learning and progress
- Governors have a good understanding of the progress of different groups within the 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.
Children will be given significant opportunities to take responsibility across Elmwood Juniors. Children can take responsibility and develop leadership skills as Rights Respecting Ambassadors, Science Ambassadors, Sports Ambassadors, House Captains and Digital Leads.
Well-being
Well-being is at the forefront of everything that we do at Elmwood Junior School. 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. We deliver high quality PSHE lessons which allow pupils to engage with relevant and imperative subjects/issues.