As part of United Learning, we ensure that we deliver an ‘education with character’ and bring out ‘the best in everyone’. Our approach to teaching and learning is underpinned by three core values:

•    Respect
•    Ambition
•    Compassion 
 

We are a Rights Respecting School; we embed children’s human rights in our ethos and culture. Children learn about their rights within their lessons and during assemblies, enabling children to have an awareness of their rights, feel empowered by them and have a voice regarding them. Language around their rights is used by adults throughout school, who are all duty bearers.

There are four key areas of impact for children at a Rights Respecting school; wellbeing, participation, relationships and self-esteem.

The difference that a Rights Respecting School makes goes beyond the school gates, making a positive impact on the whole community.

•    Children are healthier and happier
•    Children feel safe
•    Children have better relationships
•    Children become active and involved in school life and the wider world

At WHGS, we know that children who have a positive attitude towards their learning, will perform well in primary school. Children with a growth mindset believe that intelligence can be developed – it isn’t fixed; they thrive in the face of challenge, embrace and celebrate mistakes and they see effort as a key part of their learning journey. Having a growth mindset means being open to and acting on feedback, being a reflective learner and ensuring they are in the learning zone, constantly challenging themselves. We praise children for identifying their mistakes and recognising how they have learnt from them.

In order to support the development of a growth mindset and metacognitive skills, we use eight key learning powers: 

• Don’t Give Up (Deema Duck)
• Enjoy Learning (Edward Elephant)
• Keep Improving (Ishan Insect)
• Use Your Imagination (Isabel Iguana)
• Be Cooperative (Tim and Tina Tortoises)
• Concentrate (Kuba Caterpillar)
• Be Curious (Colin Camel)
• Have a Go (Hamed Hedgehog)

At WHGS, we enable children to have high aspirations for their futures through our careers education programme. Following the Career Development Framework (CDI; Oct 2021), children are taught to become enterprising, optimistic, adaptable and resilient.

Children learn the career development skills that they need to facilitate positive careers through the six learning areas:

• Grow throughout life 
  Grow throughout life by learning and reflecting on yourself, your background and your strengths.
• Explore possibilities
  Explore the full range of possibilities open to you and learn about recruitment processes and the culture of different workplaces. 
• Manage career
  Manage your career actively, make the most of opportunities and learn from setbacks.
• Create opportunities
  Create opportunities by being proactive and building positive relationships with others.
• Balance life and work
  Balance your life as a worker and/or entrepreneur with your wellbeing, other interests and your involvement with your family and community.
• See the big picture
  See the big picture by paying attention to how the economy, politics and society connect with your own life and career.

Each half term, children take part in career days, based around these six learning areas. These days broaden their horizons, challenge stereotypes and help them develop the skills and sense of self that will enable them to reach their full potential. Alongside these lessons, we hold annual careers marketplace days with a diverse range of careers and speakers involved from the local community.

We offer a range of different leadership roles that children are able to undertake. We aim to develop pupil’s leadership skills during their time at WHGS and prepare them as leaders for the future.

These roles include:

• Head Girl and Head Boy
• Prefects
• SMART Council Communication Team
• Rights Respecting School Ambassadors
• Sports Leaders
• Eco Representatives
• Behaviour Panel
• Reading Buddies

During lunchtimes, children are encouraged to take part in a range of different activities, led by both adults and pupil leaders. Each lunchtime, there are focussed sporting activities available for any child to join in, as well as smaller, skills-based activities led by our Sports Leaders. Children may also choose to read outside or take part in the imaginative activities on offer, such as den building.

Sports

A variety of after school sports clubs are available for all children to take part in each half term. The sports chosen are of a wide variety are changed each half term. Some of the sports we have on offer include lacrosse, flag football and even round net. 

Choir

Children in KS2 are invited to join the choir where they are able to take part in amazing opportunities such as the Young Voices concert, held in the Summer term. 

Archaeology 

Children in the Young Archaeologists’ Club have the chance to learn about what archaeology is and how we know what we know through practical, hands on sessions and visits from archaeologists and specialists from local Universities and Museums. 
 

As well as the learning that takes place within school, we also ensure that out of school visits are planned out for each year group. This include trips to places of worship, museums, the local area and other settings, linking to learning within the curriculum. We also provide the children with immersive classroom experiences, such as workshops or guest speakers. Over their time at WHGS, all pupils will have experienced a range of out of school visits, guest speakers and workshops. These experiences enhance the learning from the curriculum and support children in making links from learning to real life.