Belonging at SPCS
At SPCS, we’re committed to ensuring that everybody experiences a sense of belonging. For older pupils, the number one question about a new school tends to be: how will I fit in?
SPCS wants to be a school where individuals belong, rather than having to “fit in”. We are a community with shared values and experiences, but one made up of individuals, each of whom is equal, and each of whom belongs.
How do we achieve ‘belonging’?
We work to build a culture where everyone experiences a deep sense of belonging. This comes through our focus on respect, through including pupils in decision-making, through ensuring everyone makes a contribution, and through raising awareness of the challenges around belonging in the wider world.
We reinforce the importance of respect, “for yourself, for others and for the world around you,” with pupils of all ages. This gives them a sound basis for understanding why belonging matters. We include pupils in many kinds of decision-making, whether that’s how they learn, what activities they choose, what resources we buy for their classroom, or which charities we support. This builds a genuine sense of agency and community responsibility.
We make sure everyone has the chance to be involved, representing the school in a hockey match or a maths challenge alike, so that all pupils feel the sense of belonging that comes from making a contribution. We also raise awareness, through assemblies and projects, of how belonging and exclusion work in the wider world, giving pupils the chance to reflect on justice and see how they can make a positive difference.
Our most recent inspection found that “leaders and staff effectively promote the importance of treating all groups of people with respect, including with regard to their protected characteristics,” and that “pupils are conversant with the school’s positive values.”
Our Belonging Committee gives pupils the chance to take action and raise awareness on equity, diversity and inclusion. Current projects include reviewing our menus to reflect the rich diversity of our pupil body, and looking at the wording of our hymn books to ensure we use inclusive language in community singing.
