School Vision

School Vision – Knowledge is Strength

Dormston School aims to inspire confident, motivated students who have a passion for learning and are fully equipped to contribute to society.

To achieve the vision we will aim to create a vibrant school which provides every student with the means to excel academically and develop into the best version of themselves.

Dormston School is an inclusive and academic school which prides itself on helping to develop the whole child. Working closely with parents and carers for the benefit of the children who attend our school is at the very core of our philosophy.

We believe that when parents/carers select a secondary school their three biggest concerns are:

It is these essentials that drive everything we do at Dormston. Put simply, we want every child who attends our school to have happy memories of their time with us and for their life chances to be significantly enhanced as a direct result of being a Dormston student. Our young people are as talented and capable as any cohort at any school in the country and it is for this reason that we believe that nothing is impossible or out of reach for them.

We have five core values which underpin everything we do as a school:

Effort – We will aim for the highest standards in everything we do. We will support and encourage our students to be the best they can be. We recognise that continuous effort is the key to unlocking potential and we will work alongside parents and carers to foster a climate of never giving up.

Knowledge – We expect all of our students to match and exceed progress made by students nationally. To help us achieve this we:

Offer a curriculum that allows students to follow their interests as well as developing key skills that so every child leaves school able to move on to whatever they choose.
Deliver lessons that are stimulating and challenging and meet the basic expectations of a Dormston lesson. Our teachers aim to ensure that all aspects of learning help students to make progress.
Set aspirational targets for each student. We share these targets with students and parents/carers.
Use rigorous methods of assessing students.
Set work that promotes the highest levels of literacy and numeracy.
Ensure that feedback allows students to understand what went well and how work can be improved.
Rigorously track and monitor students and ensure we plan interventions to bring about improvements when necessary.

Respect – We encourage our students to show respect to each other, the staff, and the school environment and strive to ensure they have pride in themselves. We expect the highest standards of behaviour both in our classrooms and around the school site. We recognise, celebrate and reward good behaviour.

Responsibility – We expect our students to take responsibility for their own behaviour and learning to ensure they grow and develop as people as well as great learners. It is our aim to never allow any student to ‘steal the learning’ of others and we make it very clear to all, the standards we expect in every classroom. Good attendance ensures our students gain the best possible grades and our school target stands at 97%. Students should aim to come to school every day the school is open. Our students are also given the chance to take up positions of responsibility including Student Council and Student Senior Leaders.

Resilience – At Dormston School we will never give up trying to ensure our students receive the best education possible. We do not want any students or member of staff at Dormston School to believe they can’t do something, or that something seems impossible, or that something can’t be done, no matter how difficult it may be. When we keep on trying, absolutely anything in the world is possible!

British Values

Dormston School is dedicated to encouraging the core British Values with our pupils. Through a series of displays, PSHE sessions and assemblies, we aim to embed in the students an understanding of and commitment to the values in society that will help them to develop into mature, appreciative, positive citizens.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY

Students have key roles and responsibilities in school such as House Leadership, Head Girl/ Head Boy, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, School Council representatives, PLC helpers, Peer mentors, Effort and Attendance mentors and Sports Leaders.
In school, students are actively encouraged to make choices knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.
As a school, we celebrate our heritage through the ‘Where in the World Map?’, Black History Month and our Multicultural Day.
As a school, we educate young people providing boundaries so that students can make choices safely.
Students are given the freedom to express their creativity through the Arts.
Through our extra-curricular activities and opportunities, students are given the freedom to make choices.
We ensure that everyone feels safe by promoting anti- bullying campaigns and focus on areas such as LGBT issues and racism.
We hold events such as Refugee Awareness Week to ensure that all members of society feel welcomed by our pupils.

DEMOCRACY

Students are involved in democratic processes e.g. voting for councillors and mock elections such as the year 9 voting campaign.
We mirror real life democracy by holding referendums, such as the EU vote.
We have a debating club which will allow all students to refine their democratic skills.
The House Councils allow all pupils to take part in the democratic process, with all items being debated by SLT.
GCSE Citizenship follows a module on democracy, with a visit to the Houses of Parliament.
Our students are involved with Dudley Youth Council and are standing for Youth Parliament.
The whole school votes for Youth Parliament representatives.

MUTUAL RESPECT & ACCEPTANCE OF THOSE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS AND BELIEFS

Our Citizenship and PSHE curriculum embodies values of mutual respect and resilience by promoting British Values.
Our Humanities curriculum area actively promote attitudes of respect, tolerance, equality and fairness.
Our RE curriculum provides a broad and balanced education on different faiths, religions and cultures.
Our curriculum recognises and celebrates the similarities and differences of those in other countries and cultures.
We teach key celebrations such as Easter, Diwali and Chinese New Year through form notices, Black History Month celebrations and consideration for absences due to religious festivals.
We take racism very seriously. Any racist action results in severe punishment and bespoke workshops to counter the issue.

THE RULE OF LAW

Our school has links with outside agencies including our local School Police Liaison Officer who work with students through assemblies and other events.
We have a clearly structured Behaviour Policy which everyone understands and follows.
All students are aware of the legal system within the United Kingdom and how this is implemented within society through PSHE sessions.
GCSE Citizenship includes a module on the law and includes visits from the Police, a visit to the Crown Court and a trip to the National Galleries of Justice.

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