Aims and Values

Charles Darwin Vision Statement

All members of the Charles Darwin Primary School community share a common aim; that our children become confident, independent, resilient, secure and caring individuals who achieve personal success and develop a love of learning.

By understanding what our children already know, we will inspire learning through excellent teaching and a passion for bringing a rich and varied curriculum to life and ensure that our children are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Our whole school, local and hidden curriculum is developed from two simple phrases:

Reading, Relevance, Resilience – For All and the Charles Darwin Way – Be Safe, Be Ready, Be Respectful.

 In order to achieve our vision we have agreed the following aims:

1. We aim to provide a safe, welcoming and stimulating environment by:
   • Warmly welcoming children into school and classes each day.
   • Accentuating the positive at all times.
   • Providing children with the opportunity to talk and to share experiences.
   • Listening to what children have to say.
   • Displaying and celebrating the work and achievements of all children.
   • Utilising both the immediate school environment and the wider environment to stimulate and aid teaching and learning.

2. We aim to raise achievement by:
   • Striving to meet the individual needs of all children.
   • Prioritising the development of reading skills and a love of reading.
   • Having high expectations of behaviour and achievement for all.
   • Providing a broad, balanced, challenging, relevant and fun-filled curriculum.
   • Providing high quality teaching using a wide variety of teaching and learning styles and strategies.
   • Sharing expertise throughout the school and wider community.

3. We aim to develop children’s self-respect and respect for others by:
   • Promoting and following the Charles Darwin Way.
   • Accentuating the positive at all times.
   • Ensuring that all children are treated and valued equally regardless of background, gender, culture or belief. There are No Outsiders at Charles Darwin.
   • Encouraging children to respond positively to the diversity of modern British society.

4. We aim to develop children’s independence and ability to think by:
   • Encouraging children to question.
   • Providing opportunities for children to discuss issues rationally.
   • Providing opportunities for children to work and act independently.
   • Providing opportunities for children to work collaboratively and co-operatively with their peers.
   • Providing opportunities for children to assess their own learning and that of their peers.
   • Involving children in decision-making processes within school.                                                      

5. We aim to help children recognise their roles and responsibilities by:
   • Involving children in their own learning, and self-assessment.
   • Involving the elected School Council in the decision making process.
   • Involving children in leading playground games and maintaining playground harmony.
   • Involving older children in helping younger members of the school community through buddying and academic mentoring.
   • Encouraging children to consider their impact upon the school, local and wider environment.

This vision statement was revisited, amended and agreed between the children, staff and Governors of Charles Darwin Community Primary School in September 2023.