Here at Harrietsham, we place a significant emphasis on the holistic development of our children, fostering strong character development alongside academic achievement. This is deeply embedded in our approach to Personal, Social, Health, and Citizenship Education (PSHCE), which underpins all learning.  Our school cultivates an environment that promotes self-esteem and emotional well-being, helping children to build and maintain respectful relationships. Key to their character development is the focus on mental health and building resilience, equipping children with the ability to "bounce back" from challenges, manage emotions, control impulses, and maintain optimism. Through a combination of explicit teaching and a supportive school ethos, Harrietsham aims to develop independent, empathetic, and problem-solving individuals ready to navigate the world with aspirations, confidence and kindness.

Continuous Provision at Harrietsham

Across all primary years, from Reception to Year 6, continuous provision plays a vital role in fostering essential life skills and personal development. By offering carefully planned and accessible resources within the classroom, children are empowered to engage in self-directed learning, exploration, and problem-solving at their own pace. This approach nurtures independence as our children make choices about their activities, develop resilience when encountering challenges, and learn to collaborate with their peers in various play-based scenarios. Through continuous provision, our children are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, promoting curiosity, critical thinking, and communication skills that are fundamental for both academic success and navigating the complexities of everyday life.

Genius Hour at Harrietsham

Genius Hour, an innovative approach to child-initiated learning, offers a dynamic and engaging experience for our children in Years 5 and 6. Within this framework, our children are empowered to explore topics of personal interest, fostering autonomy and a deeper sense of ownership over their education. This often involves researching a chosen subject, developing a project or presentation, and sharing their findings with peers – thereby cultivating essential skills in enquiry, critical thinking, and communication. For our children in Years 5 and 6, Genius Hour provides a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between structured curriculum and independent learning, preparing them for future academic challenges while nurturing their innate curiosity and passion for discovery.

Courageous Advocacy at Harrietsham

We are courageous advocates for the common good – locally, nationally and globally. 'Courageous Advocacy’ enables our pupils and our school community to develop a greater awareness of the challenges others face in life and how they, as individuals, can support causes and make a difference in our school community, local community and further afield. 

For more detailed information about Courageous Advocacy at Harrietsham, please see here:

• Courageous Advocacy at Harrietsham. 

Our Character Development Curriculum:

• To see our Character Development Curriculum overview, click the link: Character Development Curriculum Overview.