Personal Development

Character at Bradley Green

At Bradley Green, we aim to develop children’s learning both in school and when outside in the community. We believe children need the skills and attitudes that are required to be successful in the modern world. We want the children to feel confident and secure in their abilities, and in the contributions, they can make to the wider community. 

We want our children to be resilient, confident and caring. We encourage children to take responsibility and to recognise the times where they can help others by taking part in activities both inside and outside of school. 

To develop 'character' we have introduced our ‘Skills for Life’ and work hard every day to ensure children develop the core values of ‘confidence’, ‘challenge’, ‘curiosity’ and ‘respect’

Children at Bradley Green will have opportunities to take part in activities which will demonstrate and develop all of these skills for life and core values.

Our Skills for Life

Grounded in positive psychology and neuroscience, myHappymind is a whole school approach that aims to develop resilient, confident, independent children and enables them to understand how to keep mentally healthy.

It helps children to:

• Feel happier
• Know what to do when they feel worried or stressed
• Improve their focus and learn more
• Achieve more of the goals that they set for themselves
• Develop better relationships with friends and families
• Feel great about who they are and have positive self esteem

We are proud to announce that we are a myHappymind Bronze Accredited school!

This means that as a school we consider the mental health and wellbeing of our children as one of our top priorities. We have created a whole school culture that helps build our children's resilience, confidence and self esteem as well as teaching them how to self regulate in those stressful times. 

This Accreditation badge has been awarded thanks to all the effort our staff, children, governors and parents have put in to bring the lessons of myHappymind to life all around our school!

To Learn more about the myHappymind for Schools programme visit their website here - https://myhappymind.org/

What is SMSC?

All schools in England are required to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. Through our provision of SMSC, we aim to:

• enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
• enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
• encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;
• enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
• further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
• encourage respect for other people; and
• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.

How do we develop SMSC?

Spiritual Development: We teach children about themselves, others and the world around them in order to inspire and develop a sense of awe and wonder. We explore values and beliefs in which to inform their perspective on life and respect for other people. Creativity is a key part of our curriculum and we encourage a willingness to reflect on their own experiences.

Moral Development: We provide opportunities for children to investigate moral and ethical issues in order to develop their ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong, with a readiness to apply this understanding in their own lives. We develop their understanding of consequences of their actions.

Social Development: We learn to cooperate well with others and resolve conflicts effectively. We develop social skills through working and socialising with and alongside others from a variety of different backgrounds. We teach children about the way their own community as well as wider society and other communities function.

Cultural Development: We celebrate diversity within our school and share knowledge and experience within the community. We explore and develop an understanding and respect for cultural diversity. We provide opportunities to explore a variety of art, music, sport, science and festivals. We also develop an appreciation of cultural influences that have shaped the children’s own heritage.

British Values:

All schools in England are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught to pupils. The Government set out its definition of British values in the ‘Prevent Strategy.’ These values are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. At Bradley Green Primary Academy, these values are woven throughout our curriculum, including through taught lessons and wider experiences. The values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy: Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our active Smart School Council and through pupil questionnaires. All our children form a part of the school council.

The Rule Of Law: Throughout the school day, the importance of laws, are consistently reinforced. Our children are taught the value and reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibility that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Individual Liberty: When in school, our pupils are encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We encourage our children to know, understand and exercise their rights as children and when they enter adulthood.

Mutual Respect: Our school Behaviour Policy revolves around core values such as ‘respect’ and children have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths & Beliefs: This is achieved through enhancing our children’s understanding of their place in a culturally diverse country and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity such as through assemblies and visits to places of worship. We also have a dedicated lesson per week of Religious Education.  Pupils of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

Equality

We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive school. For us, equality means that everyone is able to participate and feel welcome and safe in the activities of our school. This includes pupils, parents & carers, staff and visitors. Everyone should be able to achieve the best possible outcomes as a result of their participation. We believe that equality should permeate all aspects of school life and is the responsibility of all members of the school and community

Diversity

At our school diversity means acknowledging that there are differences between people that should be recognised, respected and celebrated. We promote respect of each other’s differences and identities. We celebrate and raise awareness of diversity in the school and in the wider community and believe that teaching children about diversity prepares them for life in modern Britain. 

The Equality Act 2010

We want our children to learn that we all belong together regardless of different races, religions, sexualities, genders, abilities and ages. We encourage children to be proud of their differences and to understand the importance of not discriminating against, or being unfair to others, because of their difference

The Equality Act 2010 - The Protected Characteristics

The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:

• Our school mission statement
• Our school core values - RESPECT
• Our school behaviour policy and curriculum
• Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
• Active engagement and communication with parents and carers
• Assemblies linked to British Values & the protected characteristics
• Discussion within curriculum subjects, taking a cross-curricular approach to the Equality Act
• Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) sessions (see the mapping document below)
• Religious Education (RE) lessons, RSE lessons and Protected Characteristic talks
• Sporting, Art and Cultural Events
• Pupil Voice, including SMART school council 
• Educational visits
• Real-life learning outside the classroom
• Guest speakers
• Developing links with local, national and international communities
• Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community