Aims, Ethos & Values
Katherine Warington School is a modern school with traditional core values. Central to our vision for the school is the shared belief that young people have the right to a transformational educational experience that will enable them to fulfil their potential and realise their ambitions. Talent is evenly distributed but sadly opportunity is not.
Accordingly we promote a culture that fosters and rewards effort and success and engenders a shared belief amongst all members of the school community that nothing is impossible if it will improve learners’ life chances.
We provide the highest quality teaching and learning to meet the needs and expectations of the surrounding Harpenden and Wheathampstead community. Our students will be fully fledged members and leaders of our democratic society – ready, when they leave us as adults, to make their mark on the world.
The ethos of our school focuses on enabling every student to make outstanding progress whatever their starting point and this will be achieved by:
- a relentless focus on improving standards of teaching and learning;
- an innovative and flexible curriculum which enables learners to follow individualised pathways stretching the most able and also providing more appropriate opportunities (such as work-related learning and college placements) for those who prefer a more vocational route;
- developing a strong student voice so that learners are involved in the transformational process;
- developing the inclusion agenda by providing high quality provision for learners who struggle to access a mainstream curriculum and stretch/ challenge the most able;
- a high quality and creative programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for staff which will improve learner experience and also contribute to staff recruitment and retention;
- creating a staffing structure that allows senior leaders to focus their time on strategic issues;
- drawing on the expertise of the Trust to support the new school as it grows and to broaden the opportunities available to all students in the early years of the school;
- working in partnership with all members of the local community, both educational and wider;
- embed and embody the principles of the Prevent strategy, teaching tolerance, respect for others and responding unequivocally to the ideological challenge of terrorism and addressing any areas of risk of radicalisation.
We value:
Knowledge – built through our robust and diverse curriculum. Students develop a thirst for knowledge through inspirational teaching and, as their school career progresses, they are afforded more and more personalised opportunities to apply knowledge and develop life skills.
Wellbeing – students and staff value the importance of looking after their own and others wellbeing and health. Through participation, collaboration and a focus on kindness and integrity, our school community is ready to face the challenges of a developing world.
Success – students and staff believe nothing is impossible if it will improve learners’ life chances. They are supported to fulfil their potential, realise their personal ambitions, and have the confidence and resilience to meet their challenges.