Ethos, Vision and Values

Bringing out the Best

Oxted School will excel at ‘Bringing out the Best’ in students and staff. We aim to bring out the best in students of all abilities and so increase their life chances for their future success and fulfilment. 

We aim: 

• to develop self-esteem in all students
• to challenge all students to achieve their best
• to encourage positive behaviour, individual responsibility, and ambition
• to provide a happy, safe, caring, and inclusive environment that values each individual and promotes respect and consideration for others
• to prepare students to become confident and responsible citizens
• to provide a broad and balanced curriculum to meet the needs of all students including their personal, social and spiritual development

To bring out the best we ask students to be:

Respectful, Responsible and Powerful Learners

We know that if students are respectful, not only to staff but also to themselves, they will create an environment to thrive. Also, by being responsible for their learning, students are empowered to bring out the best in themselves and develop a positive growth mindset. Finally, this is underpinned by being a Powerful Learner (Reflective, Resourceful, Resilient, Courageous, Creative, Collaborative).  We know that armed with these characteristics our students will be well-equipped for the modern world.

To bring out the best we ask staff to be:

Reflective, Skilled and Positive

Schools are a place of learning and by being reflective teachers can embrace new ideas and techniques in the classroom, learn, improve, and then share best practice to help students achieve. Teachers are offered high quality professional development to ensure they are skilled practitioners and fully aware of the latest research in terms of teaching and their subject areas. Finally, by being positive, staff are able to create the best possible environment for learning.  We want staff and students to be recognised for their achievements and hence maintain that positive growth mindset.

To bring out the best we ask leaders to be:                                                  

Thoughtful, Trusted and Empowering

There are many types of leaders in our school; Principal, Senior Leaders, Heads of Faculty and Years and in essence teachers are leaders of their classrooms. We ask all these leaders to be thoughtful in the way in which they lead, as we know our actions have an impact on the lives of others. We want leaders to be trusted by those who they lead; with this trust others will be able to thrive. One of the most important areas in modern leadership is to be empowering, by ensuring those we lead share and understand our values enables them to lead in their own areas and grow into the leaders of the future.

Oxted School’s approach to ‘Bring out the Best’ is both forward looking and traditional, offering a proven high-quality education. We provide opportunities for students of all abilities to achieve high standards within a caring atmosphere that enables them to develop socially and academically. We work hard to engender in all students’ self-esteem, confidence, and consideration for others through their secondary education. We set high standards for behaviour, promoting traditional values that are important for life-long achievement. We believe that academic attainment flourishes in this atmosphere enabling students to develop into confident and well-rounded young adults. 

'Leaders and staff have very high expectations and aspirations for all pupils'.

Ofsted, February 2022