Our Values

These are our values.  They can be thought of as our ‘non-negotiables’ – beliefs, expectations and standards that underpin how we work with the young people in our care, and the community we serve.  We believe that if we work in the context of these values, students will achieve more than they ever thought possible. They have evolved following a sustained period of success for Polesworth.

A teenager of today has the world at their fingertips. We have a responsibility to equip young people with a local, national and global knowledge and understanding.  It will only be through education that the right questions will be asked and understanding and tolerance achieved.  The young people of today must be part of the solution.

Our Young People

We value three main types of achievement for our young people, and the vision for Polesworth is that we ensure our students are empowered to achieve to a consistently outstanding level.

Achievement – Academic: We believe all young people have the potential to achieve great things.  Intelligence can be developed regardless of emotional, academic and social background, given high quality teaching and bespoke, personalised support.  They should be equipped with a crucial sense of belief based on a well-developed self-awareness and an ambition for themselves and for the local and global communities in which they live and work.

Achievement – Personal:  All young people achieve things they can be proud of every day outside our school’s planned curriculum in addition to academic success. We have a vital role in ensuring individuals develop their own talents and interests and have a responsibility to instil in them a sense of pride in who they are and what they can and do achieve.

Achievement – Social:  Excellent relationships for learning are a prerequisite for all other achievements.  Relationships that engender mutual respect between young people and all other members of our school, local and global communities will ensure learning can be fun in a disciplined and caring environment where the highest expectations of behaviour, courtesy, manners and respect are the norm.

Our Staff

Our values extend to how we challenge, support and work with each other.  All staff (support and teaching) play a crucial role in the education of young people.  We all understand how our work has a direct influence on the life chances of the young people in our care.  In the same way that we all have a duty of care to them, we have a duty of care to each other and have regard for each other’s professional and personal well-being. We are the keeper of each other’s reputation.

All members of the staff community see themselves as learners.  They are empowered to make decisions, be creative and to lead.  Mutual respect pervades all relationships, working together to enhance professional learning and practice and collaboration; collegiality and a sense of team identifies how all staff work together.  All staff have clarity and certainty about the direction our school is taking and all staff contribute to that vision.  Staff co-operate with each other and are not in competition with each other – they are part of a team that ensures Polesworth strengthens its position as a great school.