“Exceptional success requires exceptional circumstances.” (James Kerr).

At Killisick Junior School, we are committed to creating the exceptional circumstances that will enable all of our pupils to achieve exceptional success, in line with our school motto "Believe to achieve and succeed."

Our teaching and learning approach is underpinned by the belief that every child has the potential for greatness. We reject the notion of fixed ability and instead foster a culture of growth mindset, where children are empowered to believe in themselves and their capacity to achieve remarkable things.

To realise this vision, we will:

Maintain Consistently High Expectations

• Communicate an unwavering belief in the academic potential of all pupils, aligned with our motto "Believe to achieve and succeed"
• Set challenging, yet achievable, goals that stretch and motivate children
• Cultivate a classroom environment where effort, perseverance, and learning from mistakes are celebrated

Deliver Excellent Instruction

• Ensure teachers have deep subject knowledge and pedagogical expertise to support pupils in achieving their goals
• Provide carefully sequenced, coherent curricula that build critical knowledge and skills
• Employ evidence-based instructional strategies that maximise pupil engagement and learning

Foster Positive Relationships

• Model and teach the values of respect, responsibility, and collaboration to help pupils believe in themselves and succeed
• Develop strong partnerships with parents/carers to support children's learning and instil the belief that they can achieve and succeed
• Create a nurturing school culture where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to believe in their abilities

Offer Tailored Support

• Closely monitor pupil progress to identify and address individual learning needs, ensuring all children can achieve and succeed
• Implement targeted interventions to accelerate the progress of vulnerable learners
• Provide enrichment opportunities that challenge and extend our most able pupils, empowering them to believe in their capacity to succeed

By realising this vision, we will ensure that the "exceptional circumstances" are in place for every child at Killisick Junior School to achieve exceptional success - academically, socially, and personally. Through our relentless commitment to excellence and our unwavering belief in our pupils, as encapsulated in our school motto, we will transform the life chances of our children and make a lasting, positive impact on our community.