We believe children learn best when they feel safe and secure. We aim to offer an outstanding education that encourages each child to be the best they can be. We recognise individual talents and develop confidence so every child is motivated, inspired and enjoys learning.
Aims and Values
- A safe and happy environment to provide the opportunity for each child to reach their potential and recognise high aspirations.
- An ethos of nurturing and caring, appreciating different qualities and recognising each child as an individual.
- Exciting learning opportunities that will develop knowledge and skills, both academic and social, to prepare children for the future.
- A secure yet challenging atmosphere where children feel confident and self-motivated to take risks and so become active and independent learners. Outstanding teaching and support to bring about an inspiring, imaginative and innovative curriculum.
Our Definition of Learning
Learning is a continual process by which we gain knowledge and skills in an engaging and creative way within a challenging, secure environment. Learning is about creating meaning from experience.
The Pochin School strongly believes that our curriculum should be driven by:
- Community – local, national, international
- Problem solving and challenge
- Practical, creative and based on real experiences and interests
- Children steer the curriculum
The Pochin Values
Every child that attends The Pochin School will develop attributes that as a school community we value above all others. These values have been developed through the whole community and represents the hopes and aspirations of pupils, parents, staff, the village community and the Pochin Family, for whom the school has been named after.
Each value is associated with a letter in the name POCHIN:
These values help and support the children develop the learning behaviours that will support them throughout their life to be successful. They will also help improve children’s mental well-being and the ability to cope with change and challenges.
Learning Behaviours
We are developing children’s ability to discuss their learning and helping them develop a language to talk about their own learning. The children in school today are going to be facing huge challenges in the wider world and we are working with them to develop skills and attitudes that will help them be successful in the wider world.
It’s really important to have healthy self-esteem because it affects everything about our thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Self-esteem has a big impact on our mental health and our future.
- Perseverance – We desire all children to have the inner strength to never give up. We want to see resilient children, learning from mistakes and seeing that having to rethink an aspect of their learning as a way to improve. Perseverance is about picking themselves up after a setback and being able to give it another go.
- Optimism – We desire all children to believe in themselves and look for the positive aspects of life, the challenges that meet them and see the learning opportunities when things go wrong. Optimistic children generate well-being for themselves and for those around them. We want to see children actively evaluating their work and developing the ability to believe that they can always improve whilst taking a pride in their own and others work and achievements.
- Confidence – We are looking for children to be seen thinking and considering, valuing their own ideas and believing that they have the strategy to solve problems, this helps pupils develop a healthy self-esteem. We want our pupils to be confident to take risks. This is about children questioning and asking “What if…?” and “What shall we try now?” – it is also about children pushing themselves to try new things and knowing that learning is sometimes uncomfortable!
- Honesty – We want our children to be truthful to themselves and to others. An honest child is courageous as they have the courage to do what is right, even when it may be uncomfortable for them. They are always truthful and never try to mislead others. They can always be relayed upon to tell the truth and be dependable.
- Independence – We want our children take responsibility for their own learning and achievements, valuing effort and having the skills to take the initiative for their own learning. We wish children to believe that they can help themselves when they are stuck, but also know when and who to ask for help.
- Kindness– Children treating others as they wish to be treated is the core belief at The Pochin School. We wish children to take joy in serving one another and offering support and encouragement to others in making the right choices and growing their learning together. This is mirrored in the way they speak to adults and adults speak to them. We want children to believe it is okay to think differently, be different and it is fine to change your opinion, but showing kindness to others is paramount.
We use a holistic approach to help the children remember these values and how they can support their learning behaviours.
“The Pochin Family have served and nurtured The Pochin School since founding it over 300 years ago. It is very important to us that the children are brought up with Service and Duty in mind, values that our family have always held, and we would support The Pochin School in its efforts to achieve this.” – Mr John Pochin, August 2020
British Values
The government has set out its definition of British values in the ‘Prevent Strategy’ and emphasises that schools are required to ensure these values are taught across the United Kingdom.
At The Pochin School we have always recognised the importance of educating our children so that they understand the multi-cultural and multi-faith Britain we live in today. We ensure our pupils are ready to contribute to an every changing society.
Democracy
Democracy is embedded at our school. Pupils are taught to listen carefully and with concern for each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Our pupils are taught the value of respecting themselves and others around them. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our School Council. The elections of the School Council members are based solely on pupil votes, reflecting our British electoral system and demonstrating democracy in action. Our robust behaviour policy involves both rewards and sanctions; pupils are clear about the expectations at The Pochin School, hence the positive opinions of visitors to the school and Ofsted.
The Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they are those that govern the class, the school or the country, is consistently reinforced through our curriculum, behaviour system and assemblies. Each class discuss the school rules to ensure they are clearly understood by all, this ensures that every pupil is able to learn in a safe environment. We expect pupils to behave impeccably when they are on trips outside of school. Pupils are taught, through our behaviour system, what happens if they break the rules and that the wrong choices have consequences.
Individual Liberty
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Our pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; examples of this can be clearly seen in our teaching of e-safety. Whether it is through the curriculum or through participation in our extra- curricular activities, our pupils are given the freedom to make choices. Pupils are also given the opportunity to be engaged in their learning through the use of personal negotiated targets and self-assessment of their work.
Mutual Respect
Respect is one of the core values that is evident at our school; this can be seen in lessons in every classroom and around the school. Pupils are taught our core values through religious education, assemblies, and school rules. This helps to develop self-esteem and to give pupils strategies to help improve their respect of themselves and others.
Tolerance of those with Different Faiths and Beliefs
Our core value of respect ensures tolerance of those who have different faiths and beliefs. The Pochin School enhances pupils understanding of different faiths and beliefs through assemblies, a broad approach to religious education and our P.S.H.E. work. Pupils participate in celebrations such as Diwali and Chinese New Year, and enjoy a depth of study during themed weeks. The Pochin School participates in sporting events across Leicestershire. Pupils have the opportunity to take part in events such as Archery, Climbing, Orienteering, Swimming, Cross Country Running, Football and Netball. We have whole school daily acts of worship where we share ideas, events, music and stories to promote the values expressed.
Equality and Diversity
Equality
We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive school. For us at The Pochin School equality means that everyone is able to participate and feel welcome and safe in the activities of our school. This includes pupils, parents, staff, governors 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 have developed our policy through 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 differences.
The Equality Act 2010- Protected characteristics
Article 2: To respect and ensure their rights to each child without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
Our schools equality objectives are:
- To establish a culture of inclusivity throughout all aspects of school life
- To promote equality of opportunity and understanding of the equality act amongst the members of our school community
- To build character in pupils so that they are confident, resilient, respectful and caring citizens.
- To enable children to understand and accept differences between themselves and others.
- To prepare children for life in modern Britain through a celebration of diversity
