At Steeple Morden Primary School, not only do we want every child to flourish academically, we believe that education is about developing the whole child.

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Our aim is for every child, to have every chance to unlock their full potential.

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This is achieved by providing opportunities for personal growth and developing the well-being of each child.  Underpinning this are our three core values, Resilience, Compassion and Excellence. This isn’t about adding more to children's plate; it’s about enriching their educational journey.

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​We believe that learning shouldn’t be confined to classrooms but extended into the many real-world experiences, in order to foster skills transferable for life-long success.

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At Steeple Morden, our Personal Development program is at the heart of the children’s learning journey.  It encourages children to: ‘Be brave, be kind, be the best you can be’. This is our school motto and it is embedded within our daily routines. It is also reinforced through explicit teaching of skills such as communication, resilience, and teamwork. We are aware every interaction with a child is a chance for their personal development.

Parents, Governors, Staff and Children worked together to develop ‘50 things’, a list of opportunities that we think are important for our children to experience.  These underpin our planning in delivering a wide and diverse programme of opportunities for all children during their time at our school. These may be delivered in many ways, such as in:

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• Lesson time such as in the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) curriculum.

• Our daily collective worship, led by school staff or invited visitors, which are a chance to include the whole school collectively in finding out about values such as respect and diversity.

• Class based discussions. These can be used to follow up on ideas introduced in collective worship and to allow all children to ask questions, and to share and listen to the opinions of their peers.

• Our ‘Passions and Interest Days’, developed by our staff to present children with a chance to experience new skills.

• Using resources such as Picture News which focuses on a ‘big question’ linked to current affairs to help gain a broader understanding of the world and its problems.   

• Offering a variety of extra-curricular clubs which can give the child a chance to try a new activity and to meet socially with others who share similar interests. 

• Taking part in community events.

• Taking part in OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) a school program designed to improve children's personal and social development through enhanced play experiences

• Fund raising for Charities. These are often selected by the children.

• Opportunities to take part in events held alongside children from other schools in skills based or competitive sporting activities.

• Enrichment activities such as a broad range of visits and residential experiences. These can bring learning to life and offer cultural experiences.

 

We strive to give children opportunities to develop self-confidence and to become leaders from an early age.  Children have opportunities to voice their views in the operation of the school and support the community through pupil led groups such as:

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School Council

Planet Protectors

Junior Travel Ambassadors

Play Leaders

Peer Mediators

House Captains

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Throughout their time in school, staff guide our children in developing a ‘growth mind-set’ as they experience this range of programs and activities. They will learn to embrace setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth. We provide a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages students to persevere and to enjoy their learning journey.