EDUCATION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
HOW DO WE PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR THE WORLD IN WHICH THEY WILL GROW UP ?
BY MR JAMES WATKINS , DEPUTY HEAD , SUTTON VALENCE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
THIS IS A QUESTION THAT WE CONSTANTLY ASK OURSELVES AT SUTTON VALENCE PREPARATORY SCHOOL , MINDFUL THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR PUPILS LEAVE US AT THE END OF YEAR 6 EQUIPPED WITH THE SKILLS THAT WILL BENEFIT THEM IN JOBS THAT HAVEN ’ T EVEN BEEN INVENTED YET .
It is this focus which has led us to the development of two key initiatives in the life of the school . The first of these is Super Hoot , an owl which embodies ten ‘ Learning Powers ’: independence , initiative , empathy , reflection , tenacity , bravery , flexibility , collaboration , curiosity and originality . Each half term , a new pair of Learning Powers are introduced to the whole school , along with information about how they have been embodied by figures both historically and contemporarily , as well as what they might look like on a personal level for each and every child .
Super Hoot is in every classroom and the Learning Powers are referenced in all areas of school life . The high value we put on these key skills is reflected in our reward system , which celebrates children who go ‘ above and beyond ’ in one or more of these areas . These skills have never seemed more important than over the last year , when the children have had to make use of them through our extensive ‘ Virtual Journeys ’ programme of remote learning .
The second of these initiatives is a new , bespoke subject area , known as Preparation for Learning , Leadership and Life ( P4L ). The P4L programme , which was developed in collaboration with the whole staff and in consultation with the SVPS parent body , focuses on five key areas over the course of the academic year ; health and safety , thinking and study skills , global awareness and understanding , social responsibility , and innovation and creation . This forward-thinking curriculum allows us to provide our children with aspects of learning beyond the formal constraints of the National Curriculum . We offer the children the opportunity to consider the world beyond their own experience , to learn about learning and to have space to explore their own potential . Embedded within each of these units are aspects of PSHE , links to our Learning Powers , as well as a whole range of practical skills , appropriate to the age and stage of the children .
As with all initiatives , we remain mindful that this futureproofing has to be a dynamic process . Who could have predicted that we would spend as much of the last year learning on screen as we have in the classroom ? Our creative and enthusiastic staff team are constantly adapting to the changing educational landscape , determined that we can practise what we preach , rather than paying lip-service to a set of lofty ideals . SVPS is a school where we want the children to always try their best , whatever that may look like . We demonstrate that a mistake made is not a failure , but an opportunity to learn something new , and that everyone in our School community , be that an adult or child , should cultivate and practise this mindset as we continue this educational journey together .
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