We are delighted to share with you our School Aims, which we believe underpin the values and ethos of our school.

The Aims of our school are to ensure that:

• Our school is creative, exciting, positive and fun;
• Our teachers help us to get to where we need to be.  They help us in ways we understand the most;
• Although we are all different, everyone gets treated the same, no matter how we look or think;
• We are encouraged to make good choices;
• We care for each other.

Fundamental British Values

In November 2014, the Department for Education (DfE) produced non-statutory guidance on how schools should 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 as part of spiritual, moral, social, and cultural (SMSC) development. These core British values were first articulated in the Government’s ‘Prevent’ strategy of 2011.

At North Downs we take very seriously our responsibility to prepare children positively for life in modern Britain. We ensure that the fundamental British values are introduced, discussed and realised through the ethos, school values and work of the school. All curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and, in particular, our RE and PSHRSE sessions provide excellent opportunities to deepen and develop understanding. 

The school makes considerable efforts to ensure children have exposure to a wide experience beyond their local community during which these concepts are shown, for example, sporting events, a wide range of visits and visitors and use of residential outdoor education centres.

Our whole school values for the year provide us with our focus for each half-term. These Values are explored within our PSHRSE lessons and also provide the themes for our whole school and key stage assemblies.