Values & Ethos

Our Mission Statement

We offer an excellent educational environment that provides a holistic and personalised approach which enriches the educational outcomes and day to day life experiences of all of our pupils and students, by breaking down barriers to learning and participation, and by facilitating aspirational academic outcomes for each pupil and student.

Our Aims

The Dales School aims to offer a broad and balanced curriculum, which is highly personalised and responds to our pupils’ and students’ needs to secure outcomes that represent the best academic achievements for all pupils/students. The staff and governors aim to improve each pupil’s and student’s holistic life chances leading to an improved quality of life for all. In order to achieve this, we aim:

To provide the highest standards of teaching and learning, via a broad, balanced and creative curriculum offer which takes into account each pupil’s and student’s learning needs and preferences, and which captures even the smallest of steps of progress via a robust and effective assessment model.
To have high expectations of and for all of our pupils and students, and to develop self-motivation and, where possible independence through stretch and challenge.
To support all of our children and young people in exercising their right to freedom of expression and opinion through all forms of communication, and to their access to information in accessible formats and appropriate technologies
To provide impartial advice and guidance and prepare pupils and students for each new educational phase of their life
To develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle for every pupil and student
To enable all pupils and students to participate equitably in every aspect of school life
To promote an inclusive curriculum, ethos and learning environment for all pupils and students – including those whom we support via our outreach service.
To oppose and challenge all forms of discrimination, actively promoting and encouraging equality and diversity in all aspects of school life.
To encourage all pupils, students, parents, carers, staff, governors and other professionals in partnership with the school to share their views and work collaboratively to ensure best outcomes for all pupils and students.
To provide a happy, safe and supportive environment in which to learn and thrive.

Our Values Statement

The staff and governors of The Dales School believe that it is important that:

Our Pupils and Students

Are respected, valued and listened to, and can develop positive relationships and their self-esteem.
Feel part of a caring community, are safe and treated with respect, dignity and confidentiality
Are taught and encouraged to take responsibility for their own actions and support their awareness of those actions on others
Are happy, purposeful, confident and independent
Are able to achieve their own potential, having their achievements recognised and celebrated
Are actively encouraged to contribute to their reviews and action planning
Are enabled to offer opinions which are used in shaping new provision and evaluating current practice
Have access to a wide range of effective, collaborative support and services

Our Staff

Are committed to the welfare and education of pupils and students at all times
Collaborate, challenge, support and motivate each other
Are flexible, and able to work as part of a team – valuing the principle of a whole school approach
Communicate effectively
Work in partnership with parents, governors and other agencies
Are committed to maintaining and developing their skills in response to the needs of pupils, students and the school as a whole
Are able to deliver an appropriate curriculum and assess and record the progress of all pupils and students

Our Governors

Work in partnership with all staff
Are committed to undertaking appropriate training in order to fulfil their legal responsibilities.
Are good communicators
Are reflective and supportive of all aspects of school life, maintaining a child-centred ethos in all aspects of their duties
Are well informed and valued members of the school community.

Our pupils’ and students’ Parents

Feel welcome to be in school and to be involved in the life of the school via a collaborative, co-productive approach
Have high expectations of the school’s provision

Teaching and Learning

Is consistently good or better, using a variety of methods and approaches, and learning environments, both on site and out in the community, and is rigorously quality assured on a regular and planned basis
Continues throughout the school day
Is sharply planned, with ongoing assessment and recording which is supported by a whole school language for assessment
Is personalised, engaging and provides stretch and challenge for all of our pupils and students
Conforms to statute and school policies
Gives access to a range of age-appropriate learning opportunities
Recognises and promotes achievements in all areas
Promotes positive behaviour and independence where appropriate
Demonstrates high expectations of all of our pupils and students