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Aims and Ethos

Learning is at the heart of our School.

We aim to equip learners with the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to lead independent, successful and happy lives in an ever-changing world.

Students today need more than knowledge and skills

Parents know that there is a requirement for their daughters to take greater responsibility for their own learning, both in school and beyond. This will prepare them for a future where they will need to shape their own career. The ability to take initiative and shoulder responsibility is key to their future success as members of society and creates a foundation for personal fulfilment.

Four Guiding Principles

Educated Individual Values

Service

Putting others before oneself

Service demands respect, courtesy and a responsible outlook. Be prepared also to invest in spiritual/emotional values above the material; put others before oneself; have a sense of duty to the planet and robust global and community awareness.

Courage

Being passionate about re-enforcing a moral code

Courage requires the ability to create one’s own values and uphold them; to reinforce a moral code with passion; work at self esteem and persevere in the face of difficulty. There is also the right moment to take responsibility willingly; to appreciate diversity in society and to be able to give and to receive.

Emotional Intelligence

Recognising the importance of relationships with others

Key attributes of Emotional Intelligence are to recognise the importance of building relationships; being happy with who we are; developing good interpersonal skills and relating to others with empathy.

Skills & Knowledge

Upholding the value of all things scholarly

Skills and Knowledge seek values including love of learning; independent learning and thinking; respect for learning. Just as important is the individual’s readiness to learn; being prepared and equipped to learn and demonstrating belief in the importance of all things scholarly.

Students need a broad range of skills to be effective in tomorrow’s World of Work

We know that our unique single sex setting is able to promote self confidence, uninhibited enquiry, intellectual rigour and genuine challenge so that girls are best-placed to take advantage of life in the 21st century world. Old Palace believes in encouraging students to take risk in a managed way, free from judgement.

We believe in encouraging cooperation as distinct from competition for its own sake. We promote leadership skills that foster responsibility and service rather than status and power. We know that these skills mirror the requirements of abstract reasoning, problem solving, communication and collaboration demanded by today’s employers.

We are committed to:

  • providing a safe, stimulating and caring environment where each individual is empowered to gain a strong sense of self-worth and purpose through recognition of their own talents and abilities as well as their contribution to the
    community
  • placing the needs of the individual at the heart of our commitment to achieve the highest standards of learning and teaching, through extending individual aspirations and developing self-confidence, a love of scholarship and independence of thought
  • providing a creative, stimulating and challenging curriculum that inspires and equips all to become independent life-long learners in a local, national and global community
  • celebrating diversity and individuality within a culture of praise and encouragement that promotes well-being, happiness and success
  • developing, throughout the community, supportive and constructive relationships based on mutual respect and understanding, upholding the values and Christian ideals of our Founders
  • working in partnership with all members of the community to promote clear and consistent expectations of behaviour needed to foster learning for all, self-discipline and a sense of personal responsibility.

Where next?

Governors
Curriculum
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