Our vision is to provide varied and creative learning opportunities for all our learners in a safe and nurturing environment so that they are equipped with skills for life. We aim to empower every young person we encounter with the capability to gain positive ownership of their lives, become responsible citizens and overcome barriers to education, social inclusion and achievement.
Through the provision of alternative and bespoke education programs, we are committed to enabling pupils to achieve positive outcomes by providing access to a range of realistic accreditation and training opportunities.
We hope to inspire a passion for learning, whether it’s in reading literature or plastering tiles, so that our young people, when they move on, never cease to grow.
College Priorities:
At Beckmead College, we review our priorities annually to ensure that our students receive the best possible education. We use feedback from staff, parents / carers, students and from the recent Ofsted Inspection (April 2024) to identify five areas of development which are detailed below:
British Values
Democracy
The practice of democracy is consistently explored within the school curriculum in the following areas:
- Student Voice ensures that students understand their rights and how to exercise their viewpoints which are taken into consideration as a part of decision making.
- Assemblies inform and develop their understanding about current affairs and the choices they have as citizens.
- Personal Social Development (PSD) and Citizenship gives students opportunities to explore their rights and the historical background of democracy.
Individual liberty
Students are given opportunities to be actively involved in individual liberty, through freedom of expression within a safe environment in the following areas:
- Individual liberty is taught predominantly in Personal Social Development (PSD) and Citizenship but also in various other subjects including English, and the arts.
- Student Voice encourages students to exercise their right to express their viewpoints which are taken into consideration.
- Beckmead College has a robust Anti-Bullying and Discipline and Behaviour Policy.
- Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms, and are advised how to practise these safely, for example through e-safety.
- Students are encouraged to make informed choices in their everyday school life.
Mutual Respect
The school recognises the importance of respect, ensuring individuals and all groups within the school do not experience discrimination (gender, religion, disability and sexuality) and intimidation. Students learn that their behaviour influences their own rights and the rights of others. We promote mutual respect in the following areas:
- Mutual respect is embedded throughout the curriculum including assemblies by providing the opportunity for students to express their views in a safe environment.
- The Anti-Bullying and the Discipline and Behaviour Policy also promote the ethos of mutual respect.
Rule of Law
Students understand the rule of law by observing the school rules. Students have confidence that school rules are applied fairly and consistently and are clear about sanctions if rules are not followed through.
We provide students with the understanding that self-discipline will support their personal and educational achievement in the following areas:
- Students are taught the rules and expectations of the school which are highlighted in the Discipline and Behaviour Policy and the school’s ‘ Home School Agreement’.
- Students are taught (in Nurture periods, PSD, Citizenship lessons and assemblies) the value and the reasons for laws that govern and protect all citizens, alongside the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.
Tolerance
Beckmead College is committed to an inclusive practice so that all students feel valued, included and celebrated for their individual identity.
This is achieved through developing students with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving the opportunities to experience such diversity within the school setting in the following areas:
- Pupils are actively encouraged to share their identity through cultural / traditional celebrations throughout the calendar year.
- The Anti-Bullying and Discipline and Behaviour Policy embraces equal opportunities.
