Aims & Values

  • Last updated: 5 March 2023

The very ethos of our school is communicated through the aims below which have been written by staff, governors and children. All decisions are made based on these beliefs and aspirations. The jigsaw motif shows that each piece is strengthened by its interconnection with all other pieces. The content and application of each piece is shared below. A display is maintained in our entrance hall and added to yearly as we live our aims in daily school life.

Aims and Values Jigsaw
Curriculum Aim
School life exemplified
Children at the centre
Supporting staff
Supporting families
Community Involvement

They are accompanied by The Fairburn Promise’, situated in the entrance hall, which is the practical version of what the aims look like in the daily life of the school. This is regularly reviewed by staff, parents, governors and pupils so that it remains current. 

Fairburn Promise 2023

Sitting within our aims and values and running through all teaching and learning are the British Values and teaching about Protected Characteristics.

What are the British Values in Education and where did they come from?

For schools in the UK, British Values refers to a set of values that the government believes are important for children to learn. They include respect for the rule of law, individual liberty, democracy, and mutual respect for and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. The promotion of these values in schools is part of the government’s efforts to create a more cohesive and integrated society, as well as as a way to protect children from extremist ideologies.

Here in Fairburn, this is how they are evidenced in actuality. (Written by our Pupils 2023)

British Values upheld at Fairburn

Protected Characteristics

The Equality Act 2010 states that it is unlawful for a school to discriminate against a pupil or prospective pupil by treating them less favourably because of the protected characteristics. Marriage and Civil Partnership and Age are accepted to not apply to pupils in schools.

All primary and secondary schools, whether state-funded or independent, should be able to demonstrate that no form of discrimination is tolerated and that pupils show respect for those who share the protected characteristics. Here at Fairburn we achieve this by

  1. Through all teaching and learning, promoting equality and diversity and the protected characteristics in all areas of curriculum.
  2. We ensure that our children are given opportunities to develop age-appropriate knowledge and understanding through a well-planned and delivered curriculum.
  3. Assemblies, linked to themes, British Values and protected characteristics, including the use of Picture News’
  4. RE Curriculum
  5. PSHE Curriculum
  6. SRE Curriculum
  7. The texts we read in English lessons
  8. Whole class story books
Protected characteristics