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ethos: ethos statement
Ethos: Ethos statement
On this page: Issues for Church schools | The law | Guidance
| Values | Challenging areas | Resources | DDE
information
Issues for Church schools
All schools that have a
religious character must have an ethos statement. This
forms part of the Instrument of Government. From this
statement the governors will have derived a mission
statement or set of aims for the school. All other
policies should relate to these basic statements of
purpose of the school. The policies, which the governors
should consider for approval, will cover all the major
areas of the curriculum and important aspects of the
school's life as a community such as discipline,
security, pay for staff and delegation of financial
responsibility.
The Church of England and
Church in Wales have developed the following model ethos
statement:
'Recognizing its historic foundation, the school will
preserve and develop its religious character in
accordance with the principles of the Church of
England/Church in Wales and in partnership with the
Churches at parish and diocesan level.
The school aims to serve its community by providing an
education of the highest quality within the context of
Christian belief and practice. It encourages an
understanding of the meaning and significance of faith,
and promotes Christian values through the experience it
offers to all its pupils.'
A number of schools have taken
this generic ethos statement and customized it to meet
their own particular needs and situation.
The law
The law as regards the duty of
the governors to secure an ethos statement is found in
the Instruments of Government in the School Standards and
Framework Act 1998 Schedule 12, paragraph 1:1, section
(g) (where the school is a Foundation or Voluntary school
which has a religious character).
Guidance
- The ethos of a Church school will always be
difficult to define. The following are some of the
aspects of school life which will contribute to the
ethos of a Church school:
- the manner in which the school's mission
statement and/or policies draw attention to the
Anglican and/or Christian foundation of the school
and are conveyed to parents;
- relationships with the local church;
- the relationships between staff, between pupils
and between staff and pupils;
- the standards of behaviour, the policies on
discipline and the values inherent in classroom
organization and relationships and how these are
met within the framework of Christian values;
- the links the school has with the local
community, particularly the religious communities
near to the school and from which pupils may
come;
- how effective the pastoral system is and
whether it is effective from the pupils' point of
view;
- whether the building is well cared for, is tidy
and clean and whether the standard of display is
adequate;
- the provision made for pupils with special
educational needs and abilities;
- whether it is clear from the ambience of the
school that it is a Church school; whether there
are Christian symbols in evidence, whether the
school notice board and headed paper indicate the
Christian foundation of the school;
- whether the school resource areas are equipped
to support a Church school education;
- whether the personal, health and sex education
programmes are set in the context of Christian
values;
- whether there are staff prayers and Eucharists,
prayers at staff and governors' meetings;
- whether there is a well-structured and managed
policy for spiritual, moral
social and cultural development.
- The school ethos embodies the values advocated by
the school's communities and provides the atmosphere
for life in and beyond the school itself. The ethos
statement required in the prospectus for all schools
acts as a focus for the unity of values and purpose
among the diversity of the members of the school
communities. For many schools their ethos will be
rooted in the religious beliefs and values associated
with the foundation of the school. Such an ethos can be
a powerful influence on the school's aims, purposes and
day to day life.
- Follow this link for inspection
questions regarding ethos.
Values
- Every school is a community and, as such, needs to
establish core values which are likely to include:
- tolerance;
- respect;
- personal responsibility;
- recognition of the contribution that each
individual makes;
- fairness and justice;
- willingness to acknowledge others' points of
view;
- empathy;cooperation;consideration for other
people.
- What makes a good
school?
- What make a good Church
school?
Challenging areas
- It is difficult to define 'ethos'. The general
Church of England/Church in Wales ethos statement is a
support for Church schools but there is much more that
can be incorporated.
- The Church school should make it very clear that
the Christian ethos of the school infuses the whole of
the school curriculum and school life.
Resources
DDE
information
Return to
Ethos contents page
