The School Ethos

       

 The Ethos of the School

 

The ethos of Halliford School is centred on providing a friendly, family-oriented, nurturing and supportive environment in which all pupils are known as individuals by most, if not all, staff and all are equally valued and supported regardless of race, religion, gender or disability. This caring ethos is based on the universal values essential for a civilised society: in particular, the importance of showing courtesy and consideration to all, of taking responsibility for ones own actions, of service to others and especially those in need, and of honesty with others and to oneself.

 

The academic ethos of Halliford School arises naturally out of its aims and overall ethos.  The intake of the School is academically selective in so far as it will only accept pupils for whom a liberal academic education with GCSEs, AS and A Levels is an appropriate course of study.  Thereafter, the academic ethos combines the setting and demanding of high standards within a supportive, nurturing and encouraging atmosphere. This approach is reflected in the admissions policy, the small class sizes,  and the provision of both informal and formal extra lessons and support.

 

Central to achieving the aims of the School and maintaining its ethos is the ability of all staff to know most if not all pupils by name and to be able to provide an unusually high level of individual attention. The School sets out to help make this possible through the following structural and organisational mechanisms:

 

·       Keeping the size of the School to about 400-410 pupils by limiting entry at 11+ to a maximum of 66 and by not allowing entry at 13+ to take the year group over 72 pupils.

 

·       Keeping tutor group sizes from Year 8 upwards at no bigger than 18 pupils by having four tutor groups in each year.

 

·       Ensuring that, wherever possible, teaching groups are never bigger than 22 and that from Year 8 upwards the average size is usually 18 or less. 

 

·       Ensuring that sufficient time is made available in the school timetable and daily routine for tutors to conduct their business with their tutees effectively.

 

·       Having a Pastoral Committee under the direction of the Senior Tutor to supervise and review the provision of pastoral care.

 

·       Insisting pupils feature as an agenda item on every academic staff committee meeting.

 

The emphasis in the ethos on the family atmosphere and nature of the School is reflected in organisation and life of the School in a wide variety of ways:

 

·      Under the constitution of the School all parents may apply to become  members

of the Limited Company. They are then entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting and receive a copy of the annual Company Report. 

 

·       The constitution of the Board of Governors includes the requirement for two current parents to sit as  members of the Board.

 

·       The School will always give places to siblings as long as they meet the academic standard required for entry.

 

·       There is a fee discount for families with more than two siblings in the School at the same time.

 

·       There is an active and flourishing Parents Association.

 

·           A questionnaire is sent to all parents annually in order to allow them to contribute to the development of the School. The questionnaire  provides them a formal vehicle through which to  express their views on what they think the School is doing well and what areas they think need improvement.

 

 

Religious and Spiritual Matters

 

The School is not a religious foundation but the religious and ethical basis is provided by mainstream Anglicanism. Indeed, the Visiting Chaplain is the local Rector of St Nicholas. That said, the School community has a diverse religious make up and includes Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs and Jains as well as a wide variety of Christians. All pupils attend whole school assemblies. These are predominantly faith-based. In addition, all pupils follow a course of religious studies.

 

Charitable Status

 

Halliford School is a charitable foundation committed to providing a sound liberal education to pupils from the widest possible social, religious and ethnic  backgrounds, regardless of income, as far as the sound management of its resources will allow. The School is also committed to playing a positive and supportive  role within the Shepperton community of which it is a part. It also sets out to encourage charitable activity within the pupil body as part of their education as citizens.  The School sets out to meet these charitable remits as follows:

 

·        Providing means-tested bursaries on a scale commensurate with sound and responsible management of the school's financial resources.

 

·        Making the School facilities available to the local community on a scale commensurate with provision of a sound education for its pupils.

 

·        Developing mutually supportive and cooperative links with local schools.

 

·        Developing links with schools in the developing world (in Ghana and Ethiopia) and providing them with support whenever possible.

 

·        Organising regular fundraising activities to support charitable causes.

 

·        Supporting the training of teachers by providing opportunities to undertake teaching practices at the School.

 

·        Making an increasing variety of teaching and learning materials available on open access on the School website.