Vision & Values

Welcome from the Head Teacher

I would like to offer a warm welcome as the proud Head Teacher here at Harlow Green. Our diverse and inclusive school is at the heart of its community, with a clear vision that this is a place where we can all grow happy, healthy and successful, together.

We are fortunate to have a modern, high-quality building and a spacious outdoor environment that staff and children enjoy every day and feel proud of. Yet no matter how impressive the facilities, a school is ultimately defined by its people and the relationships within it, and this is where we place our greatest emphasis. When children feel a genuine sense of belonging and know they are cared for, regardless of their background or circumstances, they are ready to learn, to be challenged, and to strive for improvement in all that they do and all that they become.

While we aim for academic success for every pupil, we believe this only has true value when supported by strong personal development. It is essential that children learn how to be healthy and safe so they can enjoy success as they grow. We want to work alongside families to help shape young people who are positive, confident, and ready to embrace the opportunities around them, while also understanding the importance of contributing to their community and wider society. We encourage our pupils to recognise that everyone is unique and valuable, and that we can all live and work together in harmony by respecting our differences and individuality.

To achieve the high standards we set, we are not a school that works in isolation. Over many years, we have developed strong relationships with the Local Authority, local schools and national bodies, as we constantly look towards the highest quality practices which will benefit each every one of our children.

We are privileged that our families place their trust in us each day. Their positivity and commitment to building strong home–school relationships allow us to work collaboratively to ensure children enjoy their educational experience and develop into successful, well-rounded individuals.

Hopefully, alongside being a point of reference for general information, this website will provide a window into our school allowing us to demonstrate how we operate day-to-day and showing a sample of the fantastic achievements that are experienced by our wonderful children. However, if you would like further information about our school, or would like to arrange a visit, please contact us and I will be delighted to show you why Harlow Green is such a special place.

Mr M. Malik – Head Teacher

Our Vision

In 2006, Harlow Green Infant and Junior Schools came together to form a single primary school dedicated to serving its community and supporting children from the age of 3 to 11. As part of this process, both schools collaborated to create a shared vision for education, ensuring a consistent and united understanding of what we aimed to achieve.

In 2024, this vision was revisited through consultation with children, families, staff and governors. The aim was to reinvigorate our shared purpose and ensure that the final statement truly reflected the values held across our whole community. This process led to the reaffirmation of our vision for everyone who is part of the Harlow Green family:

Growing happy, healthy and successful, together.

Across our community, it is clear that success – in all its forms – is an expectation, but only when achieved alongside happiness and positive health. To make this possible, we must create an environment where everyone feels they belong and where challenges are met through the gradual development of a wide range of knowledge, skills and attributes. We also emphasise that personal growth is a shared journey. The greatest success comes from strong relationships and collaboration, not from individuals working in isolation.

Ultimately, we want our children to become global citizens who make a positive contribution to the communities they will join throughout their lives. That journey begins here at Harlow Green, where we provide the foundation and context for each child to grow, thrive and make a meaningful impact.

British Values Statement

Our values are part of a wider understanding of the values of Britain, and we reflect British values in all that we do.

We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world.

We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and accepting adults who make a positive difference to British Society and to the world.

What are British Values?

Schools have been asked to explain how they promote British values. So, what are ‘British’ values?

There are certain values that have been attributed to being British, by the government and some institutions, and these fall into the following broad areas:

Democracy
The Rule of Law
Individual Liberty
Acceptance, Understanding & Respect

These are the values of many countries and cultures across the world and have been for thousands of years.

How do we specifically promote British Values at Harlow Green Community Primary School?

We seek to promote British values in our policies and practice here at Harlow Green Community Primary. Our activities and the way we manage learning and behaviour, clearly reflect British values. We promote these values in the following ways:

Democracy

Provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of, and promote respect for, public institutions and services – by discussing these whenever appropriate in curriculum work.
Teach pupils how they can influence decision-making through the democratic process e.g. in our Rights Respect work.
Include in the curriculum information on the advantages and disadvantages of democracy and how it works in Britain e.g. when considering periods of history where democracy was not as fully developed as it is now.
Encourage pupils to become involved in decision-making processes and ensure they are listened to in school – again through the work of the Rights Respect Officers.
Organise visits to democratic establishments e.g. Houses of Parliament, Gateshead Civic Centre, gatherings of School Councils across the borough.
Hold ‘mock elections’ so pupils learn how to argue and defend points of view e.g. when electing representatives to the Rights Respect Officers Team for each class and when appointing specific roles in school e.g. Year 6.
Help pupils to express their views e.g. through English lessons, No Outsiders Assemblies/Sessions, and opportunities to present work and opinions.
Model how perceived injustice can be peacefully challenged e.g. through our interactions with pupils and the school’s behaviour system and discussing scenarios in assemblies and class PSHE work.

The Rule of Law

Ensure school rules (Ready, Respectful and Safe) and expectations are clear and fair e.g. by discussing these with pupils and establishing what these look like in context with the pupils themselves.
Help pupils to distinguish right from wrong e.g. during everyday interactions and discussions of stories, fables and other literary materials.
Help pupils to respect the law and the basis on which it is made e.g. by showing how rules help everyone to interact in an orderly and fair manner and protect the vulnerable in society.
Help pupils to understand that living under the rule of law protects individuals
Include visits from the police in the curriculum e.g. have sessions with the Community Police Officers, work with the Youth Offending Team, visits from the Fire Service.
Teach pupils aspects of both civil and criminal law and discuss how this might differ from some religious laws.
Develop approaches focused on fairness and justice to resolve conflicts e.g. as part of sanctions in our approach to behaviour.

Individual Liberty

Support pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence e.g. through all areas of teaching and learning in school.
Encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour, as well as knowing their rights e.g. through all of their interaction with adults and each other in school, through the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools agenda.
Challenge stereotypes e.g. through PHSE work and No Outsiders assemblies.
Implement a strong anti-bullying culture – as enshrined in our policies for Anti-Bullying and Behaviour.
Follow the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools agenda.

Acceptance, Understanding and Respect

Promote respect for individual differences in all areas of learning and interaction.
Help pupils to acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life e.g. through our Religious Education work and PSHE.
Challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour e.g. through discussion and use of illustrative materials as well as our approach to behaviour in school.
Organise visits to places of worship e.g. visits to the local churches and other diverse places of worship as appropriate to the curriculum.
Develop critical personal thinking skills throughout our curricular work.
Discuss differences between people, such as differences of faith, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality and differences of family situations, such as looked-after children or young carers e.g. through our PSHE, No Outsiders sessions, and broader curricular work and through visitors to school sharing their experiences.