Values and Ethos

Courage, Commitment and Compassion

Following our ‘Good School’ outcome in the most recent Ofsted (January 2019), we decided to update our core values. After a period of consultation, we settled upon Courage, Commitment and Compassion. I strongly feel that these values are a very effective reminder of how we should approach the day to day operations within school, but are equally important in underpinning our journey moving forwards. They are not simply words on a website. They frame our approaches to teaching and learning, to our interactions with students, parents and each other and they also inform our self-reflection as a school community.

We want our students to be brave enough to try their best, no matter how challenging a problem they face (academic or otherwise). We constantly ask them to make the link between being committed and achieving positive outcomes. But perhaps most importantly of all, we encourage them to be compassionate individuals, taking notice of others and their needs, and supporting each other to the best of their ability.

Similarly, as a staff we challenge each other to be brave enough to look inwards, and to recognise areas where we can improve. We are committed to making these improvements, even in the challenging circumstances that face many small rural schools. And we look after each other, as well as our students, – paying close attention to wellbeing and emotional health across our school community. This has become even more important in the wake of the global pandemic. We are now recognised as a ‘Healthy School’ in response to our work on PSHE, Emotional Health and Wellbeing, and we are currently pursuing our Arts Mark status.

Our ethos supports the expectation that all staff and students play a full and active role within the school. For students, there are opportunities to participate in many extra-curricular activities and to take advantage of the various trips and visits that we organise, including the possibility of foreign study tours and cultural exchanges.

As a school, we remain focused on developing as many leadership opportunities as possible, including a thriving Duke of Edinburgh Award programme, and a Student Leader pathway that offers something for all students.

All of our students have a strong student voice through the Student Council, and the various focus groups that run throughout the year. Always at Bedale, there is a strong focus on charity work and we continue to work on projects throughout the year, both within our community and beyond as part of the message that compassion should stretch beyond your nearest neighbour.

If you want to get a taste of what goes on a BHS, please arrange a visit by calling 01677 422419, or email admin@bedalehighschool.org.uk . You could also take a look at our Facebook page which is a very up to date reflection of how fabulous our students are: https://www.facebook.com/bedalehighschool .

We look forward to meeting you, and hopefully to you becoming a part of our wonderful community.

Tom Kelly

Headteacher