Vision & Values
At Durham Lane Primary School, we aim to nurture every child to achieve their full potential in a safe, caring and inclusive community that values respect, responsibility, creativity, and diversity. Everything we do is for our children and families.
At Durham Lane Primary School, everything we do begins with our belief that children and families come first. We are committed to nurturing every child so they can achieve their full potential within a safe, caring and inclusive community—one that values respect, responsibility, creativity and diversity.
Our aim is to help children grow not only academically, but as well-rounded individuals who show compassion, confidence and integrity. We want our pupils to leave Durham Lane as good people who will go on to make a positive difference in the world.
This commitment underpins all aspects of school life, particularly in our approach to:
• Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Economic (PSHCE) education, including Relationships Education
• Fundamental British Values
• Behaviour and conduct
• Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development
To bring our vision to life each day, our community is guided by a clear, shared set of core values. At the heart of these is RESPECT—the foundation of how we learn, play and grow together. RESPECT is explored, modelled, taught and celebrated through the following sub traits:
R – Resilience Children learn to persevere, adapt and keep going when things are challenging.
E – Engagement Children participate actively, listen well, show curiosity and take pride in learning.
S – Sincerity Children act with honesty, integrity and authenticity.
P – Pride Children take pride in their achievements, their school, their behaviour and themselves.
E – Equity Children show fairness, include others, celebrate diversity and value everyone’s contributions.
C – Care Children show kindness, empathy and compassion—towards others and themselves.
T – Team Player Children work well with others, demonstrate cooperation and value shared success.
These values are woven into daily interactions, planned learning experiences, assemblies, celebrations and the wider culture of Durham Lane. As children progress through school, these values develop in depth and complexity, supporting them to grow into confident, thoughtful and responsible young people.
Parental Survey October 2025
100% of responses stated that they were happy with the level of communication receive and that the new forms of communication were giving them a greater insight into what their child has been learning and what they will be learning in future.
99% of of the responses stated that their child was happy in school.
Parental comments
| ‘Nothing. We have been really happy with how my child has settled this academic year and Mrs Wheatley seems to know him well already. No concerns regarding curriculum etc. Thank you’. ‘Communication seems very good, it’s nice to get the weekly updates’. ‘No we receive a lot of information already and I’m happy with the content’. ‘Dojo is far better than the last system’. |
Parental Survey April 2025
- Out of 229 children in school, we had 78 responses (approximately a third of the school community)
- 98% of the responses stated that their child was happy in school;
- 100% stated that their child feels safe in school;
- 95% stated that their child has either been bullied (or that this question was not applicable) and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively (of this 95%, 78% stated that it wasn’t applicable);
- 95% of the responses stated that the school makes parents aware of what their child will learn during the year;
- 94% of responses stated when parents have raised concerns with the school, they have been dealt with;
- 98% of responses stated there is a good range of subjects available to their child at this school;
- 96% of responses stated that their child can take part in clubs and activities;
- 97% of responses stated that the school supports their child’s wider personal development.
Additional comments
As well as receiving feedback about ways we can improve, the staff and I, as the Headteacher, were extremely proud and uplifted by the positive comments received. Working with children in education is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be challenging at times, so your kind words truly mean a great deal to us. Here are some of the responses given when asked what you, as parents, like about our school:
- Approachable staff. Kind teachers. Well behaved kids. Good wrap around care.
- I feel the inclusive nature within the school’s ethos is exemplary. Whilst pushing for academic ability is key, I am impressed at the wider, inclusive, and empathetic topics and engagements my child brings home to the dinner table after school.
- Our children love coming to school, and I feel that they are seen and supported by their teachers. Communication is good between school and parents.
- The staff are incredible.
- The teachers and leadership.
- Flexible before- and after-school clubs makes a HUGE difference. The culture of the school is lovely – well behaved, friendly, confident kids; approachable teachers.
- Teachers are kind and the admin are approachable.
- Wrap around care for my kids as it helps with my work.
- Supportive teachers especially in reception. The head teacher is hands on and kind. I really like how all the pupils know her and she knows the parents.
- Small family minded school with passionate staff.
- Durham Lane is a family orientated school and has a ‘family feel’ where staff and children know each other well. The school has good communication links with parents via email updates and a regular newsletter. Parents are involved in fundraising events such as the Christmas and summer fairs, and more recently, the mud run. These are always lovely events for the children to be able to spend time with parents at school. The after-school clubs are always varied and offer a range of opportunities for the children – especially the ‘themed clubs’ each term, for example, the Easter craft session.
- Durham Lane is, and has always been, a small, family focused school. While academic achievement is obviously important and valued, it is the ‘little things’ that ‘make’ a child’s time at school so special e.g. arts and crafts, dressing up, science days, visits, big camp out, mud runs, summer fayre etc. A variety of activities gives every child a chance to shine at something and make memories.
- I love the fact that the school is all for the children and not just about facts and figures. if there any issues it is dealt with right there and then. The support for the children who need it is there and the school will do anything to get the resources quickly.
- Friendly, inclusive, supportive, positive.
