Personal Development
Character development
Pupils’ self-confidence, self-esteem and self-knowledge are excellent. Pupils develop into resilient, independent, curious learners, who understand their own strengths and weaknesses and who understand how to improve further. Pupils attribute much of this development to what takes place in the classroom. They take responsibility for their own progress in responding to feedback from teachers on their work, seeing this as an opportunity to enrich and elevate the quality and scope of their writing.
They show courage in taking risks which enhance their learning.
Through organising a house event, or taking on a junior leadership role, or helping new boarders, settle in, pupils learn to understand and value their own contribution to the community.
In accordance with the school’s highly successful strategy to make pupils ‘future-ready’, they develop the key skills of confidence, collaboration, creativity, curiosity, courage and compassion.
Pupils make sensible and considerate decisions, for the benefit of their community and on their own account. The school’s leaders listen to their views, encouraging them to understand that they matter.
Creativity
Pupils have an excellent appreciation of the non-material aspects of life. Governors and school leaders have encouraged this through enhanced facilities for theatre, dance, music, design and engineering, and food and nutrition and by expanding the A Level curriculum.
The Creativity & Innovation Centre, known as The Hive, stands at the heart of the school campus: many pupils said that they continue to regard creative pursuits as an important part of their school lives even if their academic paths have gone in a different direction. Pupils speak warmly of the sense of belonging to the cast of a play or a music ensemble, comparing it to being in a team or a house.
Spirituality and moral awareness
Pupils explore with curiosity the spiritual dimension of their lives, pointing particularly to weekly assemblies and religious studies lessons as opportunities to reflect.
Pupils demonstrate outstanding moral awareness and understanding of the network of obligations which bind the house, class or social group… Their morality is underpinned by the Christian ethos of the school and nourished by their curiosity about other faiths. Pupils have a strong sense of right and wrong, and they understand the need for rules and sanctions.
They are intolerant of inappropriate behaviour or language, especially bullying.
Social awareness
Pupils have an excellent level of social awareness, often developed through work in the classroom. Boarding life promotes social cohesion and collaboration. Pupils’ social awareness is also developed in co-curricular activities, which develop aspects of teamwork and awareness of others’ strengths and weaknesses.
Pupils support one another emotionally and practically, including across age groups, both informally and through formal mentoring structures.
Community and leadership
Pupils make a strong contribution to the lives of others, volunteering for leadership responsibilities in their houses, societies or year groups. They also work hard to recognise the needs of others in the wider community, whether on a global scale or contributing to the local hospital.
They care for the school environment and look after it well. They also invest time and energy in the school’s partnership with primary schools, notably a day of music-making culminating in a concert hosted by the pupils.
Diversity and cultural understanding
Pupils’ respect for diversity and cultural understanding is excellent. The boarding houses form a harmonious community which accepts all its members on an equal basis, including the forty nationalities represented. Pupils do not just accept those who are different from themselves but recognise the way that its international character enriches the school.
The blend of boarders and day pupils contributes to pupils’ sense of belonging to a diverse group. Religious tolerance is second nature, partly in response to methodical coverage of different faith systems in lessons.
Staying safe and healthy
Pupils have an extremely well-developed understanding of how to be safe and healthy. They engage enthusiastically in the School’s programme of sport and outdoor activity, they embrace a balanced lifestyle and they know why it is important.
Pupils understand the importance of good nutrition and a balanced diet, encouraged by the school's catering department. Pupils also have a strong sense of how to maintain good mental health. They speak highly of the School's PSHE programme and pastoral provision in its different forms - promoting wellbeing and offering a counselling service. Sources of support and advice are readily available.
