Education with Character

For Students:

Ambition:

• We set high goals for ourselves and work hard to achieve them, always aiming to do our best in everything we do.

Perseverance:

• We keep trying, even when things get tough, and never give up on our goals.
• We learn from our mistakes to become stronger and better.

Unity:

• We support and respect each other, work together well as a team, help everyone succeed, and celebrate each other's successes as a team.

Ambition:

• We inspire and challenge our students to reach their full potential by always setting high expectations and encouraging them and pursue their dreams.

Perseverance:

• We stay dedicated to our students' growth, providing consistent support and guidance, even when faced with challenges.

Unity:

• We collaborate as a team, creating a positive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

We understand that this is only part of developing a young person’s character, therefore we offer opportunities and challenges that will develop character further.

Our core values of Ambition, Perseverance, and Unity are central to everything we do. We ensure these values are consistently reinforced across all areas of school life. From classroom activities to sports and beyond, students are encouraged to embody these values in their daily actions and decisions.

Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) education is a cornerstone of our character education approach. Through structured lessons at all key stages, students explore important topics like resilience, respect, and responsibility. These lessons provide a dedicated space to discuss and develop the character traits that will serve them throughout their lives.

Our Tutor Time programme is carefully designed to reinforce our core values and support personal development. Each session is structured to include discussions, activities, and reflections that help students connect with and apply these values in real-world contexts.

Our assemblies serve as a key platform for promoting our school’s core values and British Modern Values, as well as celebrating both national and international events. These gatherings are not only an opportunity to recognize and celebrate student achievements, but also to provide students with valuable information on important topics and policies. We cover a wide range of subjects, including discrimination, online safety, anti-bullying, and pastoral care, ensuring that our students are well-informed and prepared to navigate the challenges they may face. Assemblies are a powerful tool in reinforcing our values, building a strong community, and equipping students with the knowledge and character traits essential for their success.

We regularly invite inspiring speakers, including successful alumni, to share their stories with our students. These talks provide real-life examples of how character traits such as ambition and perseverance lead to success, offering students motivation and practical advice for their own journeys.

Our Enrichment programme runs throughout the academic year, offering a wide range of extra-curricular and co-curricular clubs, societies, workshops and trips. These activities provide students with opportunities to develop new skills, build relationships, and practice our core values in diverse settings, from sports and arts to academic pursuits and community service.

We offer numerous leadership opportunities to help students build confidence, responsibility, and teamwork skills. Roles such as Year 11 Prefects, Year 13 Top Boys, Ambassadors, EWC Champions, Eco Leaders, School Council members, Sports Captains, Wellbeing Mentors, and Combined Cadet Force participants provide students with platforms to lead and positively influence their peers.

Our curriculum is designed to integrate character education into every subject. By linking academic content with our core values, we ensure that students see the relevance of character traits like perseverance and ambition in all areas of study, from science to humanities.

These unique activities such as Judo and Basketball run before school, at lunch time and after school. They not only help our students develop physical skills but also promote discipline, focus, and perseverance. Through regular practice and competition, students learn the importance of commitment and resilience, key traits that align with our core values.

Learning a musical instrument teaches patience, dedication, and teamwork. Our music instrument programme offers students the chance to develop these skills while exploring their creative potential, reinforcing the values of perseverance and unity through practice and performance.

Partnering with First Give, our personal development and growth mindset programme encourages students to adopt a positive, resilient mindset. By focusing on personal growth and community impact, students learn the importance of setting goals, embracing challenges, and making a difference.

Our careers education, destinations and employability programme prepares students for the future by linking character education with career planning. We help students understand how traits like ambition and perseverance are essential for achieving their career goals, providing guidance and support as they plan their next steps.

We believe in the power of recognition to reinforce positive behaviour and character development. Our praise and awards system, including Praise Points, Attendance Certificates, Uniform Golden Tickets, Subject Awards, Principal’s Breakfast, Student of the Week shout-outs, and various group awards, celebrates students who consistently demonstrate our core values. These awards motivate students to continue striving for excellence and embodying the traits that lead to success.

Opportunities for involvement in community service projects will be offered. These might include local environmental initiatives, supporting local charities, and helping with school events.