Vision, Ethos, Culture of Ambition and Strategic Development Statement

St George’s School Vision Statement

In the community of St George’s School everyone is considered as an individual and is valued equally. Everyone is made to feel welcome and has a voice.

Our school is a safe place to achieve, have fun and to develop skills towards individual, informed paths as we leave school and move forward in life towards adulthood. We learn to make choices for now and the future and to become as independent and self-sufficient as possible taking our place in society as part of Modern Britain. We do our personal best and celebrate our achievements however large or small. As a team we experience the world and work towards achieving our goals and dreams and being the best we can be.

The Governing Body and Staff team at St. George’s School are fully committed to and embody the following:

• High standards are achieved through high expectations, robust target setting and high attendance
• Staff, students and stakeholders alike treat each other with tolerance, compassion and respect.
• St. George’s practises a Total Communication. We listen to all students and stakeholders and foster an atmosphere of mutual respect, cooperation and student leadership.
• The curriculum and learning activities address the whole person and preparation for the life they will lead on leaving the school.
• We promote personal, social, moral, spiritual and cultural development, encourage creativity, self-discovery, raise self-esteem and inspire self-discipline and consideration for others.
• Teaching and learning is high quality, person centered and takes place in carefully designed and presented environments which meet an individual/cohorts’ needs.
• The staff are our most valuable resource and shall be treated as such.

St. George’s Ethos Statement:

St. George’s school is committed to ensure that its nature as a special school is more than just words. We work hard to ensure that equality for all underpins and directs both who we are, and what we do.

St. George’s School is a caring and friendly school where adults and students alike, share a passion for learning which is lived through our values of;

Ambition – to be the best version of our self

Collaboration – the school will work together with all stakeholders to achieve the best for each individual

Courage – to take risks, think outside the box and try new ideas to reach higher heights

Creativity – to fully develop our talents

Persistence – to keep going in the face of challenge

Culture of ambition statement

St. George’s School embodies a culture of high ambition for each and every person connected to the school through:

• A clear vision which is understood by all stakeholders
• Clear values which are at the core of all practice
• We actively recruit staff who are willing and able to promote the school values
• We continually invest in all stakeholders to prepare them to embody the school values
• We continually consult and evaluate our practice in the light of changing need.
• We operate an ‘open door’ policy to foster an innovative and collaborative approach both within school and with the wider professional and public community.

Strategic direction statement

St. George’s School is a changing, developing and improving entity in response to the community it serves. Whilst meeting the needs of the students in the school, we also look ahead to the cohorts who will be coming to the school in the years to come. Our overall goals are to guide each individual along a path to a successful adulthood. To do this we will support all students to:

• Be happy.
• Enjoy their learning.
• Realise and consolidate independence skills.
• Communicate in an accessible and understandable way.
• Meet their own basic needs or co-operate with another to meet their basic needs.
• Interact socially.
• Manage their anxiety/frustration or co-operate with another to manage their anxiety/frustration.
• Extend literacy and numeracy skills.
• Develop interests and skills in practical areas that can be built upon in future life.
• Develop work related skills and knowledge.
• Spend time with peers of varying abilities in a positive and supported environment.
• Learn co-operative skills to enable future life opportunities.
• Access the community effectively and calmly.
• Interact with unfamiliar peers and adults calmly, safely and effectively.
• Be healthy and safe.
• Increase understanding of the world around them and how their actions impact on themselves and others.
• Increase spiritual development.
• Be self-advocating.
• Enjoy and develop creativity.
• Be responsible.
• Be ambitious.

This list is not hierarchical nor exhaustive.

Our strategic development plan outlines specific and current areas for development.