Hope Community School

We have come a long way from the seed of an idea to parents being able to choose our school for their children.Through the support of many local people, we have created a school that is designed to meet the needs of the community. When joining our school, children will join a safe, inclusive and stimulating environment. They will be taught to value themselves and others, to fulfil their potential, and to experience school as an exciting and enjoyable place.

We do this through community engagement, a broad curriculum and excellent teaching staff. The children are encouraged to be adventurous, confident, creative, passionate to learn and proud of their successes, along with developing independence, respect for others and self-discipline. Our school in Sidcup has been recognised by Ofsted as having outstanding behaviour and safety, which is something we are very proud of.

Hope Community School is at the heart of the community, reaching out to local families to increase children's aspirations, encouraging a spirit of adventure and maximising each child's talents and gifts.We do this through underpinning Christian values such as kindness, generosity and hospitality to create community entrepreneurs. The school inspires children to be people who not only value their community but also have the desire, ability and tools to transform and enrich it through innovative and aspirational visions. Pupils of Hope Community School are encouraged to dream limitlessly, explore confidently, discover expectantly and take ownership of their futures.

We believe in education for all, allowing each child to enjoy and achieve their full potential at school.We are committed to every child, no matter their ability, ethnicity or background, thriving throughout their education.We intend to create an encouraging and inclusive environment that extends beyond the classroom and into the community, using links with local businesses. We will create an exciting and vibrant school that celebrates achievement and diversity.Education should be engaging and we will inspire children to learn and develop beyond the walls of a school. Our vision is to link school and community, teaching the value of each to the other, in order to better prepare both for their futures.

We encourage our pupils to be adventurous and innovative in their learning. Our child-initiated curriculum topics and engaging themes foster curiosity in our pupils.We enable children to be confident decision makers, through discussion and questioning, giving space for them to voice their own views and grow in confidence. It also helps children to understand the importance of listening to others, learning from, and taking into consideration other people’s ideas.

Our school is a welcoming and hospitable place where family involvement is valued. We are committed to being a positive asset not only to the lives of the children who attend but also their families and the wider community.Regular enrichment sessions are run outside the school day in order to provide families with opportunities to learn together. It is intended that the school is a community hub, a centre that is open and inviting to the community as a whole.

We use a project based curriculum to develop creativity. We connect different aspects of learning and create fresh ways of thinking. We are dedicated to making our school environment vibrant, colourful and engaging.

Our school has vibrant and inviting spaces designed to suit all learners and learning opportunities. We promote the value of working in groups and pairs, providing an environment with open, light learning areas that encourage children to talk together, play games, share ideas or research in books, or on iPads and laptops.Equally important are our quiet areas that welcome reflection, prayer, quiet reading or just the chance for learning alone.

Our classrooms reflect our belief in 'experiencing learning'.They change regularly, providing stimulating and exciting spaces to take children on a journey through learning themes.Careful planning and thoughtful resourcing encourage independence, both within the classrooms and outside spaces.Children take responsibility for their own learning. They respect each other and value their learning environment.From the moment the children arrive at Hope, they begin to understand the world is their classroom.

Everyone who works with, in and for Hope Community School, Sidcup strives for excellence.Our staff are passionate about their work, value the individual aspirations of each child and encourage all pupils to be enthused about their learning and proud of their successes.No matter what their ability or background, we encourage every child to reach their potential.

Our Christian ethos underpins the culture of our school. We aim to create space for children and the school community to explore their own personal beliefs and faith in a safe place where they can ask the big questions of life. We present a Christian viewpoint, whilst allowing children the freedom to explore, question and seek answers for themselves. We ensure children of all faiths and no faith feel included and valued and learn about all cultures, faiths and religions.

We have selected forty Christian values, many of which are shared by people of all faiths and no faith that are taught on a rolling two-year programme.These values seek to build character and draw out the full human potential of each child.The school is a community of practise that provides experiences in which the whole school community can consider and reflect on these values and translate this reflection into action.We do this at Hope in three main ways: by unpacking our values in our daily Collectives (assemblies), by exploring them in our class time through reflective activities and by communicating the values to parents and encouraging discussion and positive reinforcement at home.Our Christian ethos is further enhanced through our Christian prayer room and the provision of pastoral support through chaplaincy.