At Burton School we want children to Belong, Believe and Achieve!

As a staff we believe in developing the whole child academically, physically, emotionally and socially. Our Christian Ethos and most centrally, our Core Christian Values of Compassion, Friendship and Reverence form the foundations of our approach to teaching and Learning and our interactions with pupils, parents and colleagues. We firmly believe that developing strong, positive relationships with the children is the bedrock on which we can support them to engage and excel. We want to send our pupils on to secondary school and out into the wider community as well-rounded, competent, confident and compassionate young people with aspirations and the desire to make a difference. 

Our Burton Code sets the standards and expectations that we have of how the children should behave in school and the vision of ‘Belong Believe Achieve’ under pins, drives and give purpose to our curriculum.

Every child should feel like they ‘belong’ to the Burton School family and are special and valued. We seek to develop their understanding of their place within their world - our school community, the wider local and church community as well as the larger context of the world.

Children should:

• Develop their curiosity about the world around them and how this has changed over time
• Develop an understanding and respect for the cultures and beliefs of others
• Have the opportunity to be part of a team
• Learn what it means to be a responsible citizen
• Know how to communicate effectively with different people, in different situations and for different purposes
• Learn to respect the world we live in and explore ways to take care of it.

As well as the taught curriculum we do this through:

• Being Inclusive
• Developing leadership roles such as Pupil Governors
• Our implementation of the STARs principles of behaviour management and relationship building
• Growing links with the wider community – such as the local churches; residential care home
• Whole school and class worship led by our Spirituality Champions; members of the church and local community
• ECO schools award
• Links with Kumi school community in Uganda

Our Christian values highlight the importance of every child believing in their own self-worth and that nurturing this self-esteem and belief in their own abilities and gifts will support positive well-being, enjoyment and the belief that they can make a difference.

Children should:

• Be given the opportunities for reflection
• Learn to respect the beliefs of others
• Value and respect  themselves
• Develop the skills and behaviours of perseverance, resilience and independence
• Have the opportunity to excel in different skills and subjects
• Learn how to be healthy in mind and body

As well as the taught curriculum we do this through:

• Our weekly whole school, class and VIP worship
• Developing their understanding of spirituality and providing opportunities for reflection
• Introduction of Forest Schools
• Opportunities to take part in extra-curricular clubs and activities and sporting events
• Links with the Christchurch sports partnership and Bronze Ambassador Academy (sports leaders)
• Our Well-being Ambassadors and Spirituality Champions
• Supporting a variety of charities chosen by the children

Every child has the right to a good education but more than this we want our children to have goals and aspirations. We want to expand the children’s horizons and enable them to understand that they can be successful in a variety of different ways.

Children should:

• Have the opportunity to meet and hear from a variety of people from different walks of life
• Develop a positive mind-set about effort and aspirations
• Be exposed to a widening variety of career options and possibilities.
• Be taught in a way that is engaging
• Have the opportunity to work with others
• Develop the skills of working independently as well as interdependently with others

As well as the taught curriculum we do this through:

• Providing trips and visitors to engage and inspire
• Taking part in the opportunities to explore future careers
• Positively celebrating children’s uniqueness and achievements in VIP worship
• Sending positive reinforcement messages via MME
• Providing opportunities for children to excel at and share different skill sets across the school – ie by being a pupil governor, digital leader, science leader etc.