Vision and Values

Hermitage is committed to preparing our children to be successful citizens in the wider community, with skills, knowledge, values and attitudes that will prepare them for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st Century.

At Hermitage Primary School we want children to be happy and enjoy their learning.

We want children to be healthy and stay safe. The education we provide should enable children to realise their dreams and make positive contributions to their own community and the wider world. Children have a right to be given choices so that they can reflect on and take responsibility for their own learning and behaviour. We want children to be confident and self-motivated, both academically and socially.

The school works hard to provide an inspiring learning environment that promotes high expectations, independent learning and appropriate challenge. The resources are accessible, suitable for each child and well maintained.

The staff at Hermitage strive to be positive role models, inspiring children to have and pursue their own aspirations. The staff team bring to the school a variety of skills, experiences, interests and knowledge that inform their practice and enable children to access and enjoy a varied school experience.

Hermitage school teaches children a wide range of skills to become confident individuals in the outside world. The school involves the wider community in playing an active part in the children’s learning and education.

At Hermitage we are committed to ensuring that every child makes good progress in their learning, and leaves the school able to participate successfully at an academic, social and emotional level in secondary school and beyond.

To enable this to happen:

• we have high expectations of every child;
• we plan work that allows them extend, consolidate and apply their learning;
• we assess and give feedback on their learning and teach children to assess their own learning;
• we listen to children and help them to solve problems;
• we encourage them to take responsibility for themselves and their peers, and for the school as a whole;
• we make good use of data to ensure that all children make expected progress and plan effective interventions if they don’t.

Our Values

In order for children from Hermitage Primary School to be equipped for life in the 21st Century characterised by its rapid changes in technology, travel and employment, we agreed that the following values and qualities would be essential for success.

• Resilience
• Perseverance
• Independence
• Co-operation
• Responsibility
• Resourcefulness
• Tolerance

Hermitage school, as part of the Tower Hamlets community, is committed to the vision of "One Tower Hamlets"- tolerance, diversity and democracy.

We strive to uphold the British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and belief.

British values permeate every aspect of school life.

Here are some examples.

• Respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process through the election of the school council and their active participation in school life and the wider community; through pupil voice in focus groups and questionnaires; through teaching that promotes debate, questioning and mutual decision making; through our values of cooperation and responsibility
• Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England through application of the Golden rules; reporting of racial incidents and involving parents; reporting of stage 3 incidents and sanctions and involving parents; challenging and reporting extremist views'; anti-bullying culture; assemblies and displays; through our values of responsibility and independence.
• Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law through the development of self-esteem and self-confidence; positive behaviour management approaches; positive culture and school ethos; reporting of bullying incidents and involving parents; challenging and reporting extremist views; celebration of diversity of cultures, faiths and lifestyles; anti-bullying culture; assemblies; through school council and through class discussions; freedom of speech; assemblies and displays and through the Hermitage values of tolerance, independence and cooperation.
• Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs through celebrating the diverse range of faiths and cultures within school and beyond; welcoming parents into assembly: challenging prejudice and discriminatory behaviour; reporting of discriminatory incidents and involving parents; visiting places of worship; assemblies and displays.

We believe that Hermitage models a community based on tolerance, support and cooperation and would challenge pupils, staff or parents who express opinions contrary to Hermitage and British values.

Staff are trained in recognising extremist opinions, and will refer to appropriate agencies, including Social Services, where appropriate.