Denmark Road High School Mission, Values, Vision & Strategic Priorities 2022-2027

 

Mission Statement

Nothing less than positive progress and wellbeing for all.

 

Our Values

We Discover who we are. We recognise and celebrate ourselves and our communities, encouraging both autonomy and collaboration.

 

We Realise our health and happiness. Through every tailored experience we are prepared for who we want to be in the world.

 

We act with Honour. Everyone is known, valued, included and celebrated. We act with kindness, consideration and understanding. We play our part in local, national and global communities. We stand up for ourselves and what we believe to be right.

 

We Shape the future for ourselves, others and the planet. We are global citizens who embrace challenge, adapt to change and flourish through opportunity.

 

Vision 2027 (written as vivid description of our school in 2027)

 

People

Our people matter. Our healthy and happy students have the confidence to be themselves. They are empowered to be positive disruptors, to aspire and achieve. Our diverse and inspirational staff have licence to be creative in the classroom and innovative throughout the school. In every experience, we are kind to ourselves and others. Our people are valued, celebrated, nurtured and supported on their journey to success. Wellbeing and positive mental health for all are our core focus. We appreciate and enhance the qualities of all our people. We are pioneers in education nationally and internationally.

 

Curriculum

Our curriculum provides learning which extends beyond any particular subject. By developing the person we achieve exceptional outcomes. Our curriculum provides the space to immerse ourselves in life-shaping and life-changing learning and experiences. Learning from their context and starting point our students develop into dynamic thinkers, able to learn, unlearn and relearn. Our whole school curriculum is future minded. It develops through learning from and with others in school and beyond. It is relevant to and resonates with all of our students, so that they are ready for whatever they want to be in the world.

 

Community

Our school is at the centre of a strong and connected community. We share our knowledge, expertise and experience, enriching us and everyone in our network. Our students take an active role in the community through volunteering, collaboration and shared respect. We work with local and global businesses, charities and other organisations. Our parents and alumni know, understand and contribute to the life of the school. Our spaces are developed with both our people and our wider community in mind. We actively seek to overcome disadvantage in our recruitment of students. We promote equality through equitable practice. We use resources efficiently to ensure sustainability of the school and of our planet.
 

Strategic priorities to achieve our vision

 

Priority 1: Health & Wellbeing

 

Why we have identified this as a priority

People are at the centre of our community – our greatest asset. We recognise that we are nothing without our health and wellbeing, therefore looking after our people is our core focus. In 2022 staff and student surveys, a small proportion expressed concerns around workload, particularly homework and assessment, work life balance, and feeling supported. Denmark Road is proud to be a community that listens, communicates clearly and cares. We will continuously enhance our provision to ensure our people are happy and healthy, and that their experiences and views shape our evolving health and wellbeing vision.

 

2027 Vivid Description

Denmark Road High School is a nationally recognised institution of excellence for mental health and wellbeing where the importance of mental health and wellbeing is understood and valued by everyone.  All individuals have in-depth knowledge of self-care and practise this to regulate their health and wellbeing.  Within our school community, everyone’s voice is heard and this culture of communication allows us to provide support to those who need it. Denmark Road High School values open and honest conversations about mental health and discussions between staff, students and parents are commonplace. There are distinct wellbeing threads in all areas of the curriculum and it is woven throughout the fabric of our provision.  Positive mental health leaders are clearly identifiable within our school community. A range of expert providers are available to all, in this instance of additional support being necessary.
 

SMART Objectives to achieve this:

95% of our people will at least agree with the following:

• The school signposts effective strategies to support Mental Health and Wellbeing (KEP)
• That staff and students understand the impact of their digital usage and have strategies to manage this (KEP)
• That if they need support for mental health and wellbeing they are able to access provision (KEP)
• That they feel that they belong to a school community that values mental health and wellbeing (KEP)
• That the school maximises opportunities for mental health and wellbeing to be explored through the curriculum (KEP)

 

 

 

Priority 2: Equality, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

 

Why we have identified this as a priority

We are committed to offering  an inclusive and diverse environment which supports equality of opportunity through equitable practice, where everyone can study, work and be happy without discrimination and harassment. The voices of our students through the anti-bullying survey, whole school survey and the voice of our alumni have highlighted that at institutional, system and individual level we need to develop and demonstrate a greater understanding of people’s cultures and experiences. It is our duty to improve cultural competency within our school and therefore to make a positive  impact on our immediate community and wider society.

 

2027 Vivid Description

All voices are known, heard, represented, included and celebrated. In all spaces every student feels a sense of connection, belonging and pride as our staff have undertaken their duty to ensure this is realised. Our students, staff and trust board have confident conversations around race, identity and inclusion. We recognise when we cause harm or are harmed, are honest about it, open up the discussion, repair, reconcile, learn and reform behaviour and practice to restore peace. Students have opportunities for collaboration and coaching with alumni and a wide range of individuals they identify with. Our students and staff are agents of change: proactively interested and involved with societal change beyond our school and local community. We are leaders and role models of best practice, supporting others in education and wider communities.

 

SMART Targets to achieve this:

• 95% of our people will at least agree with the statement ‘I am known, heard, represented, included and celebrated’ (Year 5) (CG)
• 95% of our people agree with the statement ‘we have confident conversations around race, identity and practice to restore peace’ (Year 5) (CG)
• Our logs demonstrate incidents of discrimination and harassment decrease annually (KEP)
• Surveys show that 98% of people at least agree where incidents occur, we effectively restore peace between harmer and harmed (Year 5)
• We are the lead practitioner of EEDI in Gloucestershire and a national voice with our staff and students sharing EEDI best practice at national conferences and platforms (Year 5) (CG)
• Achieving the gold standard as a UNICEF Rights Respecting School (Year 3)
• All groups of students achieve equitable outcomes as a result of knowing their starting point, embracing their context and responding (Year 3) (AP within the classroom, TM Directed support beyond the classroom)
• All students have the opportunity to work with alumni or a suitable individual/s to empower their learning journey (Year 5)
• EEDI is embedded in policies, procedures and training (Year 3) (CG)
• Curriculum review occurs throughout each year to ensure it reflects the voices and experiences of our cohort