School Aims and Objectives

GENERAL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES.

We believe that children will succeed through experiencing quality in:

a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum, sensitive to the needs of the individual
a secure, respectful, caring and stimulating learning environment
an enriching programme of extra-curricular activities and visits
a rich, varied and up to date range of learning resources
innovative teaching and an investigative approach to learning
an ethos of support, encouragement and challenge to succeed
learning partnerships between school, home and the wider community.

We demonstrate our commitment to working as a learning community by:

respecting the individual but working collaboratively towards common goals with shared learning outcomes
constantly monitoring and evaluating our progress – endeavouring to become a self-evaluating school
striving for continuous improvement in all that we do.

Our broad aims are:

to arouse children’s curiosity and foster a desire to learn about the world in which they live
for children to acquire knowledge, skills and practical abilities and the will to use them
to develop qualities of mind, body, spirit, feeling and imagination
to appreciate human achievements in art, music, science, technology, literature and sport
to help children understand the society and environment in which they live
to help children acquire and develop moral and religious values, and a respect for the beliefs and values held by others
to prepare for their adult lives at home, at work, at leisure and at large as consumers and citizens
to develop a sense of self respect, to develop the capacity to live as independent, self-motivated adults and the ability to function as contributing members of co-operative groups - each child will move forward in all these ways according to age and ability
to provide a framework whereby parents are kept informed about the progress of their children through:

regular meetings where individual teachers meet individual/groups of parents
a system of formal written reports from teachers to parents
a knowledge among parents that teachers are accessible through the principal

to continue the good working relationships between all Staff, the Board of Governors, Education Authority, DENI, our neighbouring schools and with the community at large.

Specific objectives for our children are:

to read fluently and accurately, with understanding, feeling and discrimination
to develop a legible style of handwriting and satisfactory standards of spelling, syntax, punctuation and usage
to communicate clearly and confidently in speech and writing, in ways appropriate for various occasions and purposes
to listen attentively and with understanding
to learn how to acquire information from various sources and to record information and findings in various ways
to apply computational skills with speed and accuracy
to understand the applications of mathematical ideas in various situations in the home, classroom, school and the local area
to observe living and inanimate things, and to recognise characteristics such as pattern and order
to master basic scientific and technological ideas
to investigate solutions and interpret evidence, to analyse and to solve problems
to develop awareness of self and sensitivity to others, acquire a set of moral values and the confidence to make and to hold moral judgements, and to develop habits of self-discipline and acceptable behaviour
to be aware of the geographical, historical and social aspects of the local environment and the national heritage, and to be aware of other times and places
to acquire sufficient control of self or tools, equipment and instruments to be able to use music, drama and several forms of arts and crafts as means of expression
to develop agility and physical co-ordination, confidence in and through physical activity, and the ability to express feeling through movement
to foster an interest and gain confidence in using Information and Communication Technology
to include any other subjects which may form part of a future curriculum