Washingborough Primary a 'Values School'
A primary school is the leading light in showing the rest of the Lincolnshire how to instil values in children.
Washingborough Primary School is the first in Lincolnshire on its way to being a 'Values School.'
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Korben Vella and Grace Peace with jars pupils fill with coloured stones when they use key values.
The aim is to give children a sense of self and a moral compass to live by.
And by urging them to think about values such as 'thoughtfulness' and 'respect' on a daily basis, they take responsibility for their actions and their success at school.
So instead of doing something because they've been told to, they do it because they feel confident and responsible enough to, according to headteacher Jason O'Rourke.
The scheme is run by the Government through trailblazer Dr Neil Hawkes, who devised the values system.
Mr O'Rourke met Mr Hawkes in Brunei and has now brought the ethos to Washingborough, where he started in April.
And he believes in it so much, he said he would turn down a job if a school was not willing to embrace it.
"That's my vision, and headteachers have to have a strong vision," he said.
For more on the scheme and what the pupils think of it, see Thursday's Echo.
7 Comments
by Edu_Minister
Tuesday, November 08 2011, 7:57PM
“Values approach to learning is not the way to go I say,
Education Minister, London”
by Dr Neil Hawkes, Rutland
Monday, January 18 2010, 1:39PM
“I have visited Washingborough Primary School on a number of occasions and have been impressed by the excellent work that is in progress and the positive relationships of pupils and adults. This is a school, under the dynamic leadership of the Headteacher, that is making a very positive contribution to the community through its values programme. I am delighted that the word is spreading throughout Lincolnshire and other schools are realising that positive values such as honesty and respect should underpin the life and work of schools.”
by Parentof3, lincoln
Thursday, December 17 2009, 3:41PM
“I think the introduction of a values curriculum has made a huge difference to the school and I have definitely noticed a very positive change in my own children's identification of the values, ie respect or honesty, and they are more aware of these values and how they can be applied in everyday life. I think that sometimes it is important for children (and parents!) to evaluate behaviour and recognise the difference between bullying and everyday childish 'squabbles'. All of my children (both at home and at school) fall in and out of friendships with each other and I strongly believe that the values curriculum is giving them very useful life-skills to deal with a range of situations and emotions.”
by another parent, washingborough
Thursday, December 17 2009, 3:13PM
“During the 7 years my children have been coming to Washingborough school I have found that the couple of minor bullying incidents have been dealth with sensitively and effectively. Any member of staff I have approached has taken my concerns seriously and worked quickly to find a solution. There have been a lot of changes to the school recently - all for the better - and I fully support the teaching of values to my children.”
by Ian, Lincoln
Thursday, December 17 2009, 2:17PM
“I hope it works, but isn't teaching values something CoE, Catholic and other religious sponsored schools meant to be doing?”
by aparent4, Washingborough
Thursday, December 17 2009, 1:01PM
“While i agree 100% with the school instilling positive values into the pupils, on the flip side the school seems unable to stamp out the problem of bullying, which I would have thought was one of the 1st values that should be instilled in a School, although despite this on the whole i think that the school is a very good one.”
by a parent, Washingborough
Thursday, December 17 2009, 12:57PM
“Its all good and well, that the School is instilling positive values into the pupils, which i agree with 100%. And on the whole i think that the school is a very good one, its just a shame that they seem to be unable to stamp out the bullying problem which they appear to have.”