We are a Make a Difference School

Robert Mellors Primary Academy is a Make a Difference school.

Underpinning our school visions and aims is a set of values that we strive to develop in all of the children so that they make a difference;

in their work
in their relationships
in their community
to the world around them

The whole staff team collaborated and to identify the values that they feel are the most important to be promoted, encouraged and celebrated when we see them being demonstrated by the children.

Our Make a Difference values are;

Responsibility
Respect
Resilience
Focus
Teamwork
Compassion

At our school, personal development is deeply rooted in our ‘Make a Difference’ values: Responsibility, Respect, Resilience, Focus, Teamwork, and Compassion. These values are woven into every aspect of school life, serving as the foundation for teaching, daily interactions, and the development of essential qualities that contribute to wellbeing and personal achievement.

We believe in fostering a deep understanding of these values through meaningful dialogue with children. Acknowledging their efforts with affirmations such as, “You have made a difference to your work because of the focus that you showed,” is a common practice that reinforces their growing awareness of the human values critical for success.

Our Make a Difference ethos is celebrated through weekly assemblies, where children are recognized for actively demonstrating these values. Whether it is showing kindness and care, earning a compassion award, or exemplifying teamwork, such acknowledgments highlight their positive contributions to the school community.

By aligning these values with the school rules, we aim to nurture well-rounded individuals equipped with the skills and attributes needed to succeed both now and in the future. Together, we empower children to make a difference in their own lives and the world around them.

Everyone can be a Make a Difference Champion

Each year every child has the chance to become one of our Make a Difference champions. All children have a ‘passport’ which contains a number of targets which can be completed in school and at home. Our Make a Difference passports a the RMPA bespoke version of the Redhill Pledges which are a key aspect of our Trust ethos. They link directly to the Trust values of High Expectations and Widening Experiences.

Working together with parents, we hope that every child will achieve ticks against at least 10 of the targets outlined in the passports which will earn them a special certificate and badge – there is one for each year group.

Our Champions’ Projects

But achieving 10 ticks and a badge isn’t the end of the challenge! Each year, in the summer term, children who complete their passports are invited to take on the challenge to complete a project which will make them a Make a Difference Champion. Children can choose the topic of their project around a Make a Difference theme.

In summer 2024, children were challenged to make a project with a link to Protected Characteristics. We were amazed to see the quality of the projects that were produced.