Start with the Heart

reward schools feel strongly that their vision, values and ethos are central to preventing bullying.

Values are:

Visible: From messaging in school assemblies, positive quotes on display, to stickers and fridge magnets given to each family, the school ethos is clear to see. There are consistent messages relating to the approaches that lie at the heart of each school community.

Modelled: School staff actively model positive behaviours, treating others with kindness, empathy and respect.

All adults have a clear commitment to promoting and role-modelling positive relationships and positive behaviour. Adults will model positive, respectful relationships and behaviours between staff, pupils and parents.

Many schools also have pupil ambassadors that act as role models to their peers.

Our Primary 7s have received training as Young Sports Leaders and lead games and clubs at break times. They model appropriate behaviour and provide opportunities for the children to interact positively and help the younger children develop various skills.

Embraced: Where values have been created or revamped, the whole school community has been involved. Pupils use the school values to develop their own classroom charters.

Our school values were created with staff, parents and pupils: ‘Respect, Responsibility and Resilience which are nurtured and nourished through our Relationships’.

Celebrated: Displaying the characteristics of the values is actively rewarded. Schools are creative in recognising this – from house points to kindness walls and from merit postcards to Hot Chocolate Wednesdays, where children who go over and above in displaying the school values are invited to have hot chocolate with the senior leadership team.