At Cardinham Primary School, we encourage every child to:
"Grow Your Mind; Aim High"
Set in the heart of Cornwall, our small school serves the children of Cardinham village, the surrounding farms and hamlets, and families from nearby towns who value the friendly, caring, nurturing and family atmosphere of which we are so proud.
We are passionate about ensuring that every child achieves all that they are capable of. Our aim is to provide children with the knowledge, skills, confidence and ambition to thrive both in school and beyond. We want every child to move through their education knowing that opportunities are open to them and that their future choices should be determined by their aspirations, interests and talents, not by limitations. We encourage our children to aim high, challenge themselves and believe in what they can achieve.
At the heart of everything we do is our Relational Policy. We firmly believe that positive relationships are the foundation of a successful school community. Relationships between children, staff, parents and the wider community underpin every aspect of school life. By building strong, supportive and respectful relationships, we create an environment where children feel safe, valued, understood and ready to learn. We take the time to know every child as an individual and support them to develop confidence, resilience and a strong sense of belonging.
Our approach to behaviour reflects this commitment to positive relationships. We focus on recognising children's strengths, celebrating success and supporting them to learn from their mistakes. We are guided by the principle:
"Treat children as they might become, not as they are."
To help everyone feel secure and successful, we keep our expectations simple. We ask all members of our school community to be:
Ready
Ready to learn, participate and make the most of every opportunity.
Respectful
Respectful towards ourselves, others, our environment and our community.
Safe
Safe in our actions, choices and relationships.
These three simple expectations provide the foundation for a calm, inclusive and supportive environment where every child can flourish.
We are proud of our strong links with the local community. The Parish Hall is regularly used for performances and celebrations, including our annual summer production and Key Stage 1 Nativity. The church plays an important role in our school life through Harvest Festival celebrations and Christmas concerts. We are also fortunate to have the beautiful Cardinham Woods within walking distance of the school and make full use of this exceptional environment to enrich learning and encourage outdoor exploration and discovery.
Alongside our school rules, we are guided by six core values that help shape the character of our school community:
- Determination
- Empathy
- Reflection
- Collaboration
- Curiosity
- Creativity
Our values are much more than words displayed around the school; they are embedded in everyday life at Cardinham Primary School. We want our children to know, understand and actively demonstrate these values in all aspects of their learning and relationships. Each half term, we focus on one value in particular, exploring what it means and how it can be applied both in school and beyond.
Through assemblies, classroom discussions and learning opportunities across the curriculum, children regularly reflect on our values and consider how they can put them into practice. We also learn about inspirational figures from history and the modern world, exploring how they have demonstrated qualities such as determination, empathy, reflection, collaboration, curiosity and creativity in their lives and achievements. These discussions help children understand the real-life importance of our values and encourage them to become positive role models themselves.
By placing relationships, high aspirations and strong values at the centre of everything we do, we aim to develop confident, compassionate and ambitious young people who are ready to embrace future opportunities and make a positive contribution to the world around them.