School Ethos and Aims

Our School Ethos

Our Ethos is determined by a set of shared values that are firmly embedded in the school and in everything we do.  Below are the core values and beliefs that help to define us:

• We are ambitious for everyone of our students.  We want the very best for each one of them and will do all that we can to support and challenge them every step of the way.  We don’t set any limits on their potential (and certainly don’t think that things like intelligence are fixed), but rather we believe that every child with the right backing can achieve and succeed in life in the fullest possible way.

• Education should be much broader than just focusing on narrow academic achievement.  We believe that a great education should also focus on areas such as students’ Personal Development; helping them to develop strong positive values and supporting them to build their character and resilience, encouraging them to embrace the notion of trying new things rather than holding back.

• Young people learn best as part of a strong, safe and supportive community – where each member is valued and feels wanted; where everyone has a sense of belonging.  We want to be a that place where students can be themselves (and discover who that might be) and not feel the need to be the same as others or to follow others just so they can fit in and be accepted.

• Our school community should be built on foundations of mutual respect, tolerance, kindness, and courtesy – where adults treat one another in this manner, treat students in this way and encourage students to treat their peers in similar fashion – not only their friends but all those they come into contact with.

• School should be a happy place which students enjoy attending and where they want to be involved in all that it has to offer.  We want to be a school where success (in all its forms) is publicly recognised, rewarded and celebrated, and students not only want this for themselves but also for their peers.  We also want it to be that place where students can access a whole range of enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities that will bring their time at Uffculme to life and help create lasting memories of their time with us.

Our Aims for Students

From our School Ethos come our aims for each student in the time they are with us.  This is what we want for each one of them, and which serves to focus our time, energy and effort as a school:

• We want to prepare and equip every student so that when they leave us they will each have the very best life opportunities open to them

• We want to instil in each of them high aspirations for themselves – not settling for ‘all right’ but always aiming for the very best they can be in every aspect of their life

• We want each student to believe in themselves – to be confident and self-assured; and to respect and value themselves

• We want each one to develop strong positive values - so they will speak and act in way that will build others up, and never seek to tear them down

• We want them to be respectful and courteous to others, treating others as they themselves deserve to be treated

• We want every student to feel safe at all times and know that if another person bullies or intimidates them, that there is help and support available to them

• We want students to enjoy attending school and to have a wealth of opportunities to have good-natured fun together

• We want each student to build great lifelong memories, that they will look back on with fondness and want to share with others – stories of the great times they had whilst with us