BPS Global

BPS As Part Of The Global Community

Our School Values Reach Out Across The Globe...

Our school charter outlines our school values.

These values include: inclusivity, community and hope.

Valuing inclusivity leads us into actions that seek diversity in all its forms.

Valuing community leads us into actions that connect us with others from diverse backgrounds.

Valuing hope leads us into actions with a positive growth mindset when approaching connecting with others from diverse backgrounds!  

Anti-Racism

In Wales, we are fortunate to have a national curriculum that fully embraces positive work towards ending racism in all its forms. For example, we do not only celebrate Black History Month but practice 'Black 365' throughout the whole curriculum, anti-racism all year round!

The following examples show what anti-racism looks like in some of our whole-school topic work...

Humanities Topic Work

By starting topic work with 'Religion, Values and Ethics' (RVE) from a pupil-centred perspective, learners considered their own sense of cynefin, beliefs, philosophies and religious/ non-religious worldviews. Learning then extended across all Humanities 'Statements of What Matters' (SOWM).

SOWM 1: Enquiry, exploration and investigation inspire curiosity about the world, its past, present and future

SOWM 2: Events and human experiences are complex, and are perceived, interpreted and represented in different ways

SOWM 3: Our natural world is diverse and dynamic, influenced by processes and human actions

SOWM 4: Human societies are complex and diverse, and shaped by human actions and beliefs

SOWM 5: Informed, self-aware citizens engage with the challenges and opportunities that face humanity, and are able to take considered and ethical action

They then compared their personal cynefin and worldviews with others' in their class/ year group/ the locality/ nationally/ globally. Family members visited the school to share their worldviews and visits took place to a range of places that expanded pupils' understanding of diverse ethnic groups. Our year 6 classes linked with another local school who's pupils have a more ethnically diverse population and our pupils grew in their understanding and friendship groups with local peers!

This is leading pupils into a positive growth-mindset that connects them to others from diverse backgrounds...

SLIDESHOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Science and Technology Topic Work

With a focus on 'Statements of What Matters' (SOWM) 2, 3 and 6, our pupils have considered sustainability through a decolonised curriculum offer.

SOWM 2: Design thinking and engineering offer technical and creative ways to meet society’s needs and wants

SOWM 3: The world around us is full of living things which depend on each other for survival

SOWM 6: Computation is the foundation for our digital world

They have compared how similarly/ differently sustainability is approached in other countries around the world when compared to Wales (Wales has been the best country at recycling in the UK for over 10 years, recycles 14.1% more than the UK average and is ranked as the 3rd best country globally!).

Pupils have learnt some really interesting facts and skills from other countries around the world in order to live more sustainable lifestyles and reduce the school's carbon-footprint. They have also started learning: some design thinking skills in order to solve eco-problems increasingly creatively and using critical thinking; and have all improved their coding skills (so have our staff!) in order to explore how we can use technology and the digital world to solve eco-problems!

SLIDESHOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Governing Body Working Party

BPS Governing Body has a diverse range of representation within its membership in order to try and decrease "perspective blindness" and or "group think" that could lead to cases of structural or institutional racism. When considered appropriate, governors will also seek to invite others to meetings in order to further safeguard decision making and evaluative processes. The governing body has an Anti-Racism working party in order to try and constantly improve BPS as an inclusive and hopeful community. Please see photos below to get to know our Anti-Racism working party...

PHOTOS COMING SOON

Sustainability

BPS has been awarded its:

- Platinum Status Award by the Eco Schools' Body

- International School status for over 10 years

In order to support pupils' understanding and appreciation of the natural world, BPS provides outdoor learning opportunities weekly for all pupils. BPS seeks to provide ruthlessly relevant education that supports pupils in becoming global citizens aware of their impact on the global climate, and seeking to protect it for future generations.

BPS provides outdoor learning utilising a range of strategies. These can be seen outlined in the diagram below...

As an inner-city school, BPS is developing its grounds in order to provide an increasing range of 'zone 4' experiences for pupils. The school is undergoing multiple projects in order to improve its outdoor learning environments and over recent years this has included the development of:

-a walled garden area for our reception classes

-raised planters and outdoor growing areas for years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

-improvements to the East Site polytunnel in order to help year 2 children in their outdoor learning

-initial works on creating a woodland trail (including the planting of a tree for the Queen's Green Canopy!)   

-developing other outdoor areas in order to provide an increasing range of outdoor experiences such as quiet zones, seated art activities, giant games areas and outdoor cooking experiences over firepits and using pizza ovens

In order to give pupils learning experiences in 'zone 5', BPS's Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) raises funds to pay for termly coach visits to a range of natural environments that pupils may not otherwise experience. In these environments, pupils have opportunity to both explore free play in and with the natural world, and to develop their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

These experiences in the natural world may include visits to:

• native and ancient woodlands or national rainforests
• beaches, rockpools and sand dunes
• wetlands, marshlands and peat bog lands
• farmland
• lakes, rivers and waterfalls
• caves and cliffs
• bird sanctuaries, safari zoos and aquariums
• mountains, valleys, hills and gorges
• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
• Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI)

[Visits start Autumn 2023]  

Pupils are not only offered a progressive curriculum which teaches facts about flora and fauna, but a bespoke curriculum design that encourages pupils to consider:

- themselves part of the natural world to safeguard against experiencing "bewilderment" (root meaning of the word: 'to be parted from the wild') leading to anxiety and confusion. BPS recognises how being in nature can positively impact on our spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing; mental and physical health; and can support some pupils with additional learning needs to flourish.  

- how they can work in harmony with and for nature

- the positive experience of leisure, working and simply being in nature

BPS has an Eco Committee to ensure pupil voice, advocacy and agency. The Eco Committee regularly undertake work to evaluate and decrease BPS's carbon footprint and work towards becoming a more sustainable community. They consider how we can reduce waste, recycle more, reuse and reclaim materials in school.

Most recently in our Brynhyfryd Connected assemblies, they have worked with their classes to find ways for us to bring packed lunches to school that are not just healthier but more eco-friendly. (See poster on website page 'This Years Projects and Priorities').

Topics that pupils have most recently considered as part of topic work include:

-efficient energy use

-the problem of too much water and flooding

-the problem of too little water and drought

-littering

-how to reclaim and reuse waste materials

-land use and biodiversity 

-marine and land pollution

-air pollution and tree planting

-food waste and composting

Taith International Exchange Projects

Please follow the link below to see further details on Welsh Government's Taith schemes...

Homepage - Taith - Wales' international exchange programme

BPS has recently been successful in its bid for grant funding through Taith. Over the next 2 years, the school will be undertaking exchange projects with 5 different countries around the world to improve its teaching and learning experiences, values and culture, anti-racism and sustainability. The following lists highlight projects that BPS will be undertaking...

Autumn 2023 

Our educational partners are Bali Dyslexia Foundation and North Bali School of the Arts. 

Useful partner links:

- https://www.balidyslexiafoundation.org/

- NBSA Opening

Our partnership schools are led by Dr Andrea Carroll.

Please find links below for volunteer work at BDF and NBSA:

Coral reef restoration work

https://www.volunteerworld.com/en/volunteer-program/coral-reef-restoration-in-indonesia-buleleng 
English programme co-ordinator
https://www.volunteerworld.com/en/volunteer-program/english-co-ordinator-and-teacher-assistant-in-indonesia-singaraja 
Dolphin conservationist
https://www.volunteerworld.com/en/volunteer-program/coral-reef-and-dolphin-conservationist-in-indonesia-buleleng 
Arts and craft teacher
https://www.volunteerworld.com/en/volunteer-program/arts-crafts-teacher-assistant-in-indonesia-buleleng 
Rehabilitation assistant for disabled children
https://www.volunteerworld.com/en/volunteer-program/rehabilitation-assistant-for-disabled-children-in-indonesia-buleleng 
Marketing teacher and mentor
https://www.volunteerworld.com/en/volunteer-program/marketing-teacher-and-mentor-in-indonesia-buleleng 
Teacher trainer and student assessor
https://www.volunteerworld.com/en/volunteer-program/assistant-teacher-trainer-and-student-assessor-in-indonesia-buleleng 
Yoga and wellbeing mentor
https://www.volunteerworld.com/en/volunteer-program/yoga-and-wellbeing-mentor-in-indonesia-buleleng

A short 3 day preparatory visit has taken place (September 2023) in order to put in place systems for future collaboration and innovation. The preparatory visit was undertaken by; our headteacher, Mr Knight; a school community governor, Miss Richards; and a member of our administrative staff, Mrs Yeoumans-Marshall.

Our professional development visit will mobilise 4 members of our school team in face-to-face interactions with learners and staff in November 2023.

This project will have a primary focus on:

-how to support learners in tackling climate-change/ reducing our carbon footprint/ becoming increasingly sustainable in all areas of life (ethical and informed citizens)

-how learners' creative mindset can be developed through the expressive arts (creative and enterprising contributors)

Key areas explored as a secondary focus with all international partners include:

- support of learners' wellbeing

- inclusive practice to support all learners'

- the role of outdoor learning within the curriculum

Professional learning will be shared with the school community after visits. Findings will inform a strategic school plan to develop its New Curriculum design, through collating professional learning with the school's 2-year programme of Taith funded projects. The biggest impact on learners will then begin taking place following July 2025. 

(Please see our webpage 'Reports on and by BPS' for related professional learning reports and presentations as they are released)

Spring 2025

This project will seek to focus on:

-how schools can improve support for pupils with additional learning needs

-how Singaporean maths teaching raises standards of attainment, particularly through bar-modelling

-how schools support the progress of disadvantaged pupils 

BLOGS AND PRESENTATIONS COMING SOON...

Summer 2025

This project will seek to focus on:

-'ikigai' in order to improve and sustain health and wellbeing

-STEM teaching and learning

-how schools support the progress of disadvantaged pupils 

BLOGS AND PRESENTATIONS COMING SOON...

Summer 2024

This project will seek to focus on:

-anti-racist culture, diversity and worldviews

-translanguaging and multilingualism

BLOGS AND PRESENTATIONS COMING SOON...

Spring 2025

This project will seek to focus on:

-family partnerships and developing community focused schools

-healthy living and wellbeing

-outdoor teaching and learning and sustainability#

BLOGS AND PRESENTATIONS COMING SOON...

English As An Additional Language

BPS seeks to support all of its pupils with access to the curriculum and engagement with communities in Wales. This means teaching them English and Welsh literacy skills. These literacies are outlined in pupils' Boat Building Books but also through other strategies. In addition to 1:1 and in-person strategies, BPS subscribes to The Learning Village. This online platform supports pupils' English language development regardless of what their chosen or home language might be. As a school that teaches through the medium of English, this will then give pupils further access to Welsh language teaching and learning. Please find a link to The Learning Village website below for more information...

Translanguaging is part of the curriculum in Wales. Wales is currently (as of spring 2023) unique in the global community in its national curriculum offer in this way. Translanguaging involves developing pupils' ability to receive, process and express themselves moving from one language to another. Please see the overview below to see how translanguaging progresses in BPS (increasingly focused staff training and pedagogy to begin in summer 2024)...

Asylum Seekers & Refugees

BPS gained its Bronze Award from the British Council as a Rights Respecting School and is currently working towards its Silver award. The school is ablely supported by its Governing Body, and one of the school's parent governors is the UK schools' lead for the British Council in this respect. As part of our activities around the United Nations' Convention for the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the school's Rights Council (pupil council) regularly act as advocates and agents of change for classmates who are asylum-seekers or refugees.

Most recently through our online Brynhyfryd Connected assemblies meeting on Microsoft Teams, pupils and staff across the school considered "Article 22: refugees have the same Rights as everyone else". As a result, pupils co-constructed a letter for senior leaders to share with our asylum seeking families and any new families to the school in admissions meetings. This is to ensure a positive growth mindset affects our connecting with families from this diverse range of backgrounds. Please see the following video link icon, UK data and resulting welcome statement considered by pupils below...