Learning Values

Helping young people to become better learners, both in school and out

We place learning at the heart of all we do. Learning is for living and for life. It keeps our brains active and healthy, it opens our minds to new and different ideas, it challenges us to question our beliefs, attitudes and prejudices but ultimately it brings us pleasure, satisfaction, solace and motivation.

Learning requires effort, persistence, resilience, determination and growth. Learning is limitless, for life and is rewarding.

We create a culture in classrooms and, in the school more widely, that cultivates learning habits and attitudes that enable our pupils to become better learners; face difficulty and uncertainty calmly, confidently and creatively. We engage pupils consciously with the ideas and processes of their own learning and help equip them with the language to communicate their understanding of themselves as a learner and the knowledge that learning itself is learnable.

We have identified 5 learning values and characteristics of an effective learner:

• Working with others
• Independence
• Thinking
• Creative thinking
• Personal Intelligence

To make these more accessible and friendly for the pupils we have assigned a character to each value within learning we wish to emphasise.

Gilbert the Goose

Together everyone achieves more

Gilbert the goose reminds us that we need to collaborate, to listen to others and value their contribution, to make our views known in a considered way and sometimes work as a team, carrying out a role. The world of work requires teamwork, commitment and the support of others.

• I listen to other people’s ideas and offer my own in turn.
• I will take responsibility for my own contributions.
• I am prepared to ‘give and take’ and value others’ contributions.
• I can work with others as a group to reach a common goal.
• I can lead members of a team and direct them to carry out their roles.

Carly the Chameleon

Creating new things, being innovative

Carly the creative chameleon emphasises the need to generate new ideas. If we are to move forward and show progress stepping out of our comfort zone to see things afresh, try something new and unknown and to use our imagination to connect ideas and seek innovative ideas, then we need to challenge ourselves. Without a positive disposition in this, we are in danger of doing what we have always done.

• I can come up with new ideas and extend these.
• I am willing to try something new and different.
• I use my imagination.
• I think about how things can be done differently.
• I make connections/links between ideas.

Octavia the thinking Owl

All seeing, all knowing

Octavia the thinking owl urges us to think about our own thinking. There are times when we must give a thoughtful, considered response. When we need to be critical, evaluative or analytical, we need to draw on our thinking skills. We often raise questions, are curious and need to seek for answers. Our ability to reflect, process information and to provide reasons, ensures we can respond to any challenge we are confronted with and to deepen our understanding.

• I develop a questioning attitude, ‘how do I know?’.
• I give reasons supported by evidence.
• I can process information and work through a problem systematically.
• I can evaluate my learning against set criteria.
• I can reflect on my learning, and use the best from these experiences to move forward.

Percy the Persevering Penguin

Keeps on going when the going gets tough

Percy the persevering penguin challenges us to keep going when the going gets tough and to develop our independence. There are times when we need to work alone, make our own decisions, take our own choices and solve our own problems. We prefer the security of doing this with others, so encouraging pupils to develop the attitudes and necessary skills to work independently, is of paramount importance.

• I can organise my work station and resources.
• I can manage distractions.
• I can meet deadlines and work to timetables.
• I am flexible and will adapt my plans, taking on new responsibilities.
• I can stick to the task, keep focused and see it through.

Elli the emotionally intelligent Elephant

Listening, caring and thinking of all

Elli the emotionally intelligent elephant helps us to recognise our need for personal and emotional intelligence. To remain calm, think before we speak or act and to develop empathy to appreciate others’ situations is central to this work. It helps us manage and challenge our emotions and feelings.

• I remain calm when stressed or challenged.
• I think before speaking or acting.
• I listen with empathy to and do not dis miss other peoples’ thoughts, feelings and ideas.
• I adopt habits and values from others I observe.
• I understand the reasons why I feel as I do.

Ultimately, we need to manage all of our learning behaviours to achieve the best we can be and to realise our potential.

These learning dispositions or habits will help pupils meet the uncertain world unfolding before us, with confidence and self-assurance. The world of work requires flexible thinkers, adaptable changers, creative explorers, knowledge creators, interpreters and judgers of information and, above all, personally, socially and emotionally intelligent individuals.

Pupils will gain learning habit points for exemplifying excellence in learning. They will be recognised in Celebration Assembly for demonstrating learning values in practice.